The Israeli military says the shooting of Razan Najjar, a 21-year-old volunteer paramedic who shot dead on Friday, was unintentional. Najjar was shot as she tried to help evacuate wounded Palestinian protesters near Israel’s perimeter fence with Gaza.
The military said Tuesday that an initial examination determined that “no shots were deliberately or directly aimed at her.” The investigation was ongoing, the military said.
U.N. officials have condemned Najjar’s killing, saying that witness reports indicated she wore clothing that clearly identified her as a health worker. “The killing of a clearly identified medical staffer by security forces during a demonstration is particularly reprehensible,” said Jamie McGoldrick, the local U.N. humanitarian coordinator.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it and other agencies were “deeply concerned” and called for the protection of medical workers.