The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated dramatically after a significant cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.

In response to the attack, Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza starting March 18, leading to over 1,000 deaths in the region according to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry.

Since the conflict escalated, the health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 50,350 people have died, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis.

International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians and mandates protections for medical personnel, which is central to the accusations against Israel regarding its military actions.

On March 23, the UN reported that five ambulances and a fire truck were hit during the conflict, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, including paramedics and a UN official, who were later buried in a mass grave.

The Israeli military claimed that its strikes targeted vehicles moving suspiciously, alleging that a Hamas operative and militants were among those killed, but did not address the reports of the mass grave.

Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN's humanitarian agency in Gaza, expressed horror over the attacks, emphasizing that healthcare workers should never be targets in conflict.

The US has stressed that all parties involved in the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law, reflecting its position amidst the ongoing violence.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that the actions in Gaza are driven by Hamas, although she did not confirm a US assessment of the recent killings by the Israeli military.

As Israel's major arms supplier, the US is also bound by its own laws that restrict the use of its weapons in violations of humanitarian law.