Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has once again come out in support of the Palestinians, sharing a powerful message on social media condemning Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza.
Angelina Jolie calls Gaza “mass grave”
In a recent Instagram story, Jolie reposted a message from Doctors Without Borders, which describes Gaza as a “mass grave” for Palestinians and the aid workers trying to help them.
The message refers to the intensification of Israeli air, land and sea attacks on Gaza, which have intensified since October 7, 2023 and have led to widespread destruction of Palestinian life and infrastructure.
According to the message, Palestinian civilians are not only being subjected to brutal military attacks, but the ongoing blockade is deliberately preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid. This is severely hampering efforts to meet the immediate needs of the population, further exacerbating the crisis.
The post sparked widespread outrage from far-right supporters of Israel, who began criticising Jolie’s stance on social media. However, the actress’ longstanding advocacy for refugees and human rights only added weight to her comments. Jolie, who served for more than two decades as a goodwill ambassador and then special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has consistently expressed concern about the violence in Gaza and called on the international community to take action.
Since the conflict began in October 2023, more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and Gaza has suffered unprecedented destruction. The ongoing military operation has reduced the region to rubble, and homes, hospitals and schools have been subjected to Israeli airstrikes.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), has also criticised Israel. He wrote on X:
“Netanyahu’s criminal hatred expands his holdings. Christians in the East are being persecuted on the most important Christian holiday. Those who looked the other way are complicit. Are you proud of yourself? You can do better when it comes to defending human rights. Christians deserve respect. And the genocide continues. Would you care to say something?”
Israeli military admits “professional failures” over Gaza paramedic killings
The Israeli military admitted on Sunday that a series of “professional failures” led to the killing of 15 rescue workers in southern Gaza last month, including members of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, a civil defence team and a United Nations official.
The findings were released following an internal investigation by the General Staff Fact-Finding Mechanism. The investigation concluded that the soldiers involved in the incident did not engage in “indiscriminate fire,” but acknowledged serious operational and procedural errors.
According to the investigation, the incident occurred before dawn on March 23 in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah. Due to “poor night visibility,” Israeli forces mistakenly identified the emergency vehicles as belonging to Hamas. The deputy commander allegedly failed to recognise the vehicles as ambulances and assessed them as hostile. A few minutes later, soldiers opened fire on a UN-marked vehicle, which the military attributed to an “operational error in violation of regulations.”
Video proof of the attack
An investigation found that eight Red Crescent staff, six civil defence personnel and one UN staff member were killed in the shooting. Video footage later refuted Israel’s initial claims that the vehicles lacked emergency signs. The footage shows ambulances with flashers and visible logos approaching another ambulance that had earlier come under fire. The ambulances did not display hostile behaviour, but came under prolonged fire that lasted more than five minutes.
After the shelling, Israeli forces used bulldozers to bury bodies and vehicles. Rescuers and UN officials were only able to reach the scene a week later to retrieve the remains.
The military said the deputy commander responsible for initiating the attack and providing an “incomplete and inaccurate report” during the briefing would be sacked. The senior commander will also be disciplined for his role in managing the scene.
While the investigation admitted that the smashing of the ambulances was a mistake, Yoav Har-Even, who heads the army’s investigation department, said it was done to clear the way for evacuations later in the day. He denied any intention to cover up the incident.
The investigation also denied allegations that the victims were shot at close range or that they were tied up before or after the shooting. These allegations were made by the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, who stated that the respondents had been “shot at close range.”
The results of the investigation have been handed over to the Military Advocate General, who may decide to file legal charges. The investigation process is officially overseen by the Attorney General and the Israeli Supreme Court, but there are currently no independent international investigations.
According to the UN, more than 1,000 health workers have been killed by Israeli military strikes since the start of the conflict. The Israeli military has been criticised for rarely conducting thorough investigations into such cases.
