Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports that Palestinian rescuers who went missing last week were “executed” by Israeli forces, according to witnesses.

“Other than the sounds of heavy artillery fire and constant buzz of attack drones, people here are also dealing with a heart-wrenching story of a missing rescue team who disappeared seven days ago,” Mahmoud reports, adding that the paramedics went to the Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood in Rafah to save Palestinians wounded during Israeli strikes.

Those who managed to escape reported executions of many people by Israeli troops.

“Over the past few days, in cooperation with the United Nations, the Palestine Red Crescent Society managed to get close to the area where the ambulances went missing,” Mahmoud reports.

“What they found was the wreckage of the vehicles, largely buried under piles of sand,” he adds. “Testimonies from people who happened to be at the site said the rescue team was executed and buried by the Israeli military. There are no signs they’re still alive.”

Mahmoud adds that the Israeli army is not providing answers and deliberately prevented coordination among international organisations for a proper search for the 14 missing civil defence and Red Crescent workers.