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Gaza Paramedic Still Missing After Aid Worker Killings: Palestinian Red Crescent Calls for Accountability
A joint mission by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) uncovered a shallow mass grave last Sunday in Rafah, southern Gaza. Among the bodies recovered were eight PRCS paramedics, six civil defense personnel, and one United Nations staff member.
The group had been attempting to assist victims of Israeli shelling on 23 March when they were reportedly killed by Israeli forces.
“They were humanitarians. They wore recognizable emblems. They should have been protected,” said Dylan Winder, Permanent Observer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), during a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
PRCS President Dr. Younes al-Khatib also confirmed that one team member, identified only as Assad, remains missing. He emphasized that this incident is the deadliest single attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers since 2017.
Investigation Ongoing
PRCS officials stated they are still trying to determine whether Assad was killed at the scene or detained. Video footage from a PRCS ambulance appears to show Israeli tanks firing at clearly marked emergency vehicles, challenging any claims that the vehicles were unidentifiable or lacked proper sirens in operation.
One responder is reportedly heard shouting, “It’s a trap,” in the video, according to PRCS Vice President Marwan Jilani. Additional audio recovered from a mobile phone recorded the final words of a PRCS paramedic moments before his death: “Forgive me, mom. I just wanted to help people. I wanted to save lives.”
Dr. al-Khatib said a formal forensic examination is underway and will be made public once completed. PRCS leadership has called for an international and independent investigation, disputing the Israeli government’s statements and demanding justice for the victims.
Humanitarian Conditions Worsening
The discovery comes amid a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where border crossings remain closed.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported on Thursday that intensified military operations in Gaza City have caused thousands more families to flee westward. These evacuations have left many civilians without access to food, water, and basic services, according to OCHA.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that existing food parcel distributions are likely to cease soon. While hot meal distributions persist, supplies are running dangerously low.
In displacement sites like Al-Mawasi, OCHA reports worsening sanitation and outbreaks of fleas and mites, resulting in skin rashes and other health problems. Medical treatment has become increasingly difficult due to shortages of essential supplies held up at closed border crossings.
Adding to the challenges, UN humanitarian agencies have reported increases in looting and insecurity. On Wednesday, a food distribution center operated by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, was looted along with nearby facilities.
West Bank Also Affected
Conditions are also deteriorating in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin and Tulkarm, where ongoing Israeli military operations have displaced tens of thousands. Humanitarian agencies are providing aid and psychosocial support, though needs continue to grow.
A Call for International Action
Dr. al-Khatib emphasized that the PRCS has lost more than 220 staff members over the past five decades. “We are looking for action,” he said, outlining five key demands to the international community. These include an immediate ceasefire, guaranteed humanitarian access, and accountability for attacks on aid workers.
“Gaza cannot be left alone,” Dr. al-Khatib said in closing. “This is a cry to our international community.”
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Image source: https://europeantimes.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743838532_image770x420cropped.jpg
For more information, visit:
– UN OCHA: https://www.unocha.org/
– UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1161736
– PRCS: https://www.palestinercs.org/
– WFP: http://www1.wfp.org/
– UNRWA: https://www.unrwa.org/
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