JERUSALEM, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday that six of the 15 aid workers killed in a March shooting in southern Gaza were identified as "Hamas terrorists," claiming the attack was triggered by a "perceived threat."

The incident occurred on March 23 in Tel al-Sultan, where at least 15 emergency and aid workers were killed by Israeli fire, according to the United Nations and other sources. Their bodies and ambulances were later discovered buried under the sand.

In a statement, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said a preliminary inquiry suggested that the Israeli troops opened fire due to a "perceived threat" following a previous encounter with Hamas fighters in the area.

A deeper investigation will be completed in the coming days, said the statement.

Initially, the IDF claimed that the troops opened fire after the vehicles approached their position in the dark without lights or markings. But a video emerged later on the Internet showed emergency workers in uniform, alongside clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with lights on, coming under fire from Israeli forces.

In a statement on Monday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society urged an independent international inquiry into the incident. Enditem

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