15 Paramedics Killed: Eyewitness Reveals What Really Happened in Gaza
Survivor Challenges Israeli Account of Gaza Paramedic Attack
The Sole Survivor Speaks Out
Munther Abed, the only survivor of the tragic attack on Gaza paramedics, is on a mission to tell the world what really happened. Scrolling through photos of his fallen colleagues, he recalls the horrifying moment when 15 emergency workers were killed.
“We left headquarters at dawn,” he recounts. The response team, including the Palestinian Red Crescent, Civil Defence, and UNRWA, had gathered on the outskirts of Rafah after reports of gunfire and casualties. What followed was a devastating attack that Munther barely escaped.
The Fatal Attack on First Responders
Around 5:00 AM, just minutes after the rescue team arrived, shots rang out. Israeli forces fired on the UN agency’s vehicle, and soon, all the emergency responders were under attack.
Munther survived by diving into the back of his ambulance as his two colleagues in the front were shot. He was later arrested, blindfolded, and interrogated for 15 hours before being released.
Israel’s Justification vs. The Survivor’s Account
The Israeli military claims its troops opened fire because the ambulances were approaching without coordination, their lights turned off. Israel also alleged that nine operatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were among the dead.
But Munther fiercely denies these claims. “That’s utterly untrue,” he insists. “Ambulances always have their lights on, day or night. Everyone could clearly see we were paramedics.”
Mass Graves and Calls for Justice
For a week after the attack, international agencies were unable to retrieve the bodies of the slain paramedics. When they were finally recovered, they were found buried in the sand alongside their wrecked ambulances, fire trucks, and a UN vehicle.
Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA’s Gaza office, condemned the attack. “Fifteen people lost their lives and were buried in shallow graves in the middle of the road,” he said. “This appears to be a clear violation of international humanitarian law.”
No Investigation Yet, But Growing Outrage
Despite international condemnation, Israel has yet to commit to a formal investigation. Since the war began, at least 1,060 healthcare workers have been killed in Gaza.
“There is a climate of fear among ambulance workers, medics, and humanitarian staff,” Rose adds. “They feel increasingly unsafe.”
A Paramedic’s Final Words
One paramedic from the March 23 attack remains missing. As Munther reflects on the lives lost, he clutches his prayer beads and speaks softly about his fallen colleagues. “They were not just coworkers. They were my family.”
Now, he is determined to keep their memory alive. “If I hadn’t survived, who would have told their story
