**Gaza Medic Killed by Israel: A Tragic Reminder of the Dangers Facing Humanitarian Workers**
In a shocking incident, 23-year-old Rifaat Radwan, a medic with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was killed while traveling in an ambulance convoy on March 23. The Israeli military initially claimed that they opened fire because they suspected the convoy, which was without emergency lights or headlights, but a video taken by Rifaat and found on his phone after his death reveals that the vehicles’ lights were indeed on.
According to his mother, Um Mohammed, Rifaat had been working with the PRCS since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7. He was known for his bravery and enjoyed humanitarian work, having transported wounded patients to Egypt for treatment via the Rafah border crossing.
On the day of his death, Rifaat went out with an ambulance after receiving reports of several people killed in an Israeli airstrike. It would take a week for his body, along with those of his colleagues, to be found in a shallow grave on March 30. Instead of celebrating Eid al-Fitr together with Rifaat, Um Mohammed and her family had to collect his body from the Red Cross in Khan Younis.
The incident highlights the dangers facing humanitarian workers in Gaza. The PRCS has alleged that emergency workers were targeted in a “series of deliberate attacks” which constitute a “full-fledged war crime.” They have demanded an independent international investigation, stressing that crimes will continue to occur without accountability.
**Accountability is Crucial**
PRCS spokesperson Nebal Farsakh emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable. “We must ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” she said. “Crimes will continue to occur without this.” Farsakh also highlighted that 27 PRCS co-workers have died while carrying out humanitarian work, wearing the Red Crescent symbol.
Munther Abed, a paramedic who survived the incident, recounted the horror of watching his colleagues being killed and then arrested by Israeli special forces. He wished he had died instead of witnessing the tragedy.
**International Humanitarian Law is Clear**
The IDF’s initial account of the incident was later changed after the discovery of video footage. An official statement claimed that the troops perceived emergency workers as a danger due to an earlier encounter, but provided no proof. The PRCS has repeatedly emphasized that international humanitarian law is clear: medical personnel and humanitarians should be respected.
As the investigation continues, it is essential to remember that accountability is crucial in preventing such tragedies from happening again. The world must ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions, and that humanitarian workers can continue to provide aid without fear of persecution or harm.
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