Survivor challenges Israeli military's claims about Gaza attack on paramedics
- On March 23, an Israeli attack in Gaza resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency responders, with Munther Abed as the lone survivor.
- Abed claims his crew's vehicles were properly marked and had their lights on when they came under fire.
- Continued calls for a thorough investigation into the attack highlight issues of accountability and respect for humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.
In Gaza, an Israeli attack on March 23 resulted in the death of 15 emergency responders, leaving Munther Abed as the only survivor. Abed, a Palestinian paramedic, stated that his team had left their headquarters at dawn to respond to reports of gunfire and wounded individuals in Rafah. Vehicles from the Palestinian Red Crescent and other agencies were present and had their lights on. Abed recounted being shot at while in a UN agency vehicle, emphasizing that the vehicles were not approaching the Israeli troops with lights off. Following the attack, he was pulled from the wreckage by Israeli soldiers, arrested, and blindfolded, which further calls into question the military's claims about the incident. The Israeli military justified their actions by claiming the vehicles were moving suspiciously towards troops without prior coordination. They alleged that the attack eliminated a group of Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, identifying one as Mohammed Amin Ibrahim Shubaki, who was supposedly involved in the October 7 massacre. However, Abed has strongly refuted these assertions, emphasizing that the emergency response crew was civilian and completely non-combatant. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his colleagues, describing them as a second family. Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA's Gaza office, highlighted the human rights implications of the attack, pointing to the mourning families and the way the deceased were treated without dignity. Rose reiterated the necessity of a thorough investigation to assess the actual circumstances surrounding the deaths of the emergency workers, hinting at potential violations of international humanitarian law. The incident has raised significant concerns over the treatment of medical personnel in conflict zones and the responsibilities of military forces when encountering humanitarian efforts. Further discussions and investigations are deemed vital to ensure accountability for such tragedies. With conflicting narratives surrounding the events of that morning, the first-hand account of Munther Abed serves as a critical voice in shedding light on the realities faced by paramedics in war-torn areas. Abed's experience underscores the often perilous conditions under which emergency responders operate and amplifies the call for respect and protection for medical neutrality amidst armed conflicts.