March 30 Israel-Hamas War News Brief

A screenshot of the video obtained by Al Jazeera shows a man walking along a Gaza beach before being killed by IDF forces. (Received by Al Jazeera)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to killing two Palestinians and burying their bodies with a bulldozer after Al Jazeera released a video showing the incident on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said in a statement to CNN that those who “suspiciously” approached their “operational area” in central Gaza did not respond to a warning strike. Fearing they were carrying explosives, the Israelis killed them and bulldozed their bodies, he said.

What the video shows: In the video, filmed from a distance, two men can be seen walking along a beach in Gaza, separated from each other. The two appear to be waving white flags signifying surrender as they cautiously approach a group of Israeli soldiers. The video shows a man walking towards the soldiers with his hands in the air. It hides from view behind some sand and cement. He doesn't know what will happen next. The second man walks away from the soldiers. As he rushes away from the camera, he is seen being chased by an Israeli armored vehicle. Suddenly, he fell on the sand, apparently shot.

The video then cuts to another angle, which CNN was unable to locate, where an Israeli military bulldozer can be seen burying two bodies in sand and rubble. It is unclear if the bodies shown in the second half of the footage are the two men filmed at the start of the footage. Al Jazeera says the bodies resemble the same men.

Al Jazeera said in its commentary, “The giant bulldozer shovels the two bodies and buries them in sand and debris. Israeli soldiers try to cover up the executions.”

CNN has asked Al Jazeera for an unedited copy of the video. Al Jazeera reported that the incident took place near Al Rashid Street in central Gaza. CNN geolocated the video and confirmed it showed the incident on the beach. Additional visual evidence (satellite images and videos) shows Israeli military engineering vehicles such as bulldozers parked there.

Israel said: The IDF said the edited video “represents two separate incidents”.

“The first incident took place on the southern side of the corridor. After the suspect did not respond to a warning shot, (forces) fired in his direction, killing him and slightly injuring him,” the Israeli army said. After medical treatment, he was released after questioning.

The second incident occurred on the northern side of the corridor and two suspects who approached Israeli forces in a suspicious manner were shot dead, the Israeli military said.

“Two men with bags on their backs approached our forces suspiciously. Failing to respond to the warning, the forces opened fire on them, killing them. The explosives on the suspects and a documented device for fear of danger to the forces,” the Israeli army said.