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Palestinian Paramedic Detained by Israeli Forces After Gaza Ambush
Concerns are mounting for a Palestinian paramedic who disappeared following an Israeli military operation three weeks prior in southern Gaza, which tragically resulted in the deaths of fifteen emergency responders. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has now confirmed that Assad al-Nassasra, a medic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), is being held in Israeli custody. This development follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts after the fatal incident in Rafah.
ICRC Confirms Detention of Assad al-Nassasra
In a released statement, the ICRC formally acknowledged receiving confirmation that Assad al-Nassasra, a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic, is being detained by Israeli authorities. The statement indicated that the ICRC had been “informed” of Mr. Nassasra’s detention within an “Israeli place of detention,” ending weeks of speculation regarding his fate.
PRCS Alleges “Forcible Abduction” and Demands Immediate Release
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has strongly condemned the detention, asserting that Mr. Nassasra was “forcibly abducted” by Israeli troops in the aftermath of the attack that claimed the lives of his colleagues. The PRCS has characterized the incident as a grave violation and is urgently calling for his immediate liberation. They maintain that Mr. Nassasra was performing his humanitarian duties at the time of his disappearance.
Israeli Military Acknowledges Claim, But No Confirmation of Detention
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not officially confirmed Mr. Nassasra’s detention. An IDF spokesperson stated they are “aware of the claim” concerning his location but stopped short of verifying his detainment. This lack of official confirmation leaves unanswered questions regarding the circumstances of Mr. Nassasra’s apprehension and the reasons for his continued detention.
Details Emerge of Deadly Rafah Incident Targeting Emergency Personnel
The incident in question occurred three weeks prior in Rafah and resulted in the deaths of multiple emergency personnel. The bodies of fifteen individuals – eight PRCS paramedics, six Civil Defence first responders, and a UN staff member – were discovered buried in shallow graves near Rafah. This discovery came a week after their convoy was caught in the line of fire from Israeli forces on March 23rd. One PRCS paramedic survived the assault, reporting that he was detained by Israeli forces for approximately 15 hours before being released.
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PRCS Accuses Israel of “War Crime” and Calls for Investigation
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has labeled the Rafah incident a “full-fledged war crime.” The organization accuses Israeli forces of orchestrating “a series of deliberate attacks” targeting their staff and ambulances while they were responding to calls for assistance for the wounded. The PRCS is demanding an independent, international investigation into the incident. They insist that those found responsible for the deaths of the emergency workers be held accountable for their actions under international law.
IDF Preliminary Inquiry and Contested Claims
Last Monday, the IDF released findings from a preliminary inquiry into the Rafah incident. The IDF stated that its troops “opened fire due to a perceived threat following a previous encounter in the area.” Furthermore, the IDF controversially claimed that “six of the individuals killed in the incident were identified as Hamas terrorists,” although no evidence was presented to substantiate this assertion. This claim has been strongly refuted by the Palestinian Red Crescent and the surviving paramedic from the convoy.
Conflicting Accounts and Video Evidence
Initial statements from the IDF alleged that troops fired upon “suspicious vehicles” operating in the dark without headlights or emergency lights. However, this account was later deemed “mistaken” by the IDF itself. A video recovered from the mobile phone of medic Rifaat Radwan, who was in the same ambulance as Assad al-Nassasra, revealed that the convoy was indeed utilizing its emergency lights. The footage depicts ambulances stationary on the roadside, followed by the sound of sustained gunfire as Radwan exits his vehicle.
Audio Analysis Reveals Intensity of Fire
Audio analysis conducted by BBC Verify examined the footage from the Rafah incident. Their findings indicated that Israeli troops discharged firearms over 100 times during the attack. Some shots were determined to have been fired from as close as 12 meters (39 feet) away, highlighting the close-range and intense nature of the assault on the emergency convoy.
PRCS Appeals to International Community for Intervention
In their recent statement, the PRCS reiterated their appeal to the international community. They are urging international bodies to exert pressure on “the occupation authorities” – a reference to Israel – to immediately release medic Assad al-Nassasra. The PRCS emphasizes that Mr. Nassasra was “forcibly abducted while carrying out his humanitarian duties,” underscoring the violation of humanitarian principles they believe has occurred. They stress the urgency of his release and the need for accountability regarding his detention.
ICRC Denied Access to Palestinian Detainees
An ICRC spokeswoman confirmed that Mr. Nassasra’s family and the PRCS have been informed of his detention. However, the ICRC also noted a significant impediment to their humanitarian mission. “The ICRC has not been granted access to visit Assad al-Nassasra,” the statement revealed. Crucially, the ICRC also stated that they “have not been able to visit any Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention since 7 October 2023,” raising serious concerns about the welfare and conditions of Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities.
Context of Ongoing Conflict
The detention of Assad al-Nassasra and the Rafah incident occur within the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military initiated its operation in Gaza with the stated aim of dismantling Hamas following the unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages. Tragically, the ensuing conflict has resulted in a devastating number of casualties in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 50,940 people have been killed in the territory since the commencement of the Israeli military campaign.
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