In brief
In a harrowing account, the mother of Rifaat Radwan, a 23-year-old Palestinian medic killed by Israeli gunfire, shares her devastating grief and calls for accountability as investigations into the incident unfold. Emergency workers like Rifaat continue to face grave dangers while attempting to provide critical care in war-torn regions.
The grief is palpable for Hajjah Umm Mohammed, who reflects on the senseless loss of her son, 23-year-old paramedic Rifaat Radwan, among a group of 15 emergency workers shot and killed by Israeli troops in Gaza last month. As she mourns, Umm Mohammed emphasizes the heartbreak of not celebrating Eid al-Fitr with Rifaat, but instead collecting his body from the morgue, a painful reminder of the ongoing violence in her homeland.On March 23, Rifaat was traveling with other medics in an ambulance within a designated "green zone," generally deemed safe for humanitarian efforts. Yet, under the cover of darkness near Rafah, Israeli troops opened fire on their convoy, initially justifying the attack by alleging suspicious behavior. However, footage from Rifaat’s own phone indicated that their emergency lights were activated in response to a call for assistance."I never expected him to be killed," Umm Mohammed said, recalling how she entrusted her son to God each time he left to help those in need. Rifaat had dedicated himself to humanitarian work, even facilitating the transport of injured individuals for treatment through the Rafah crossing.The circumstances surrounding his death remain obscured. A week after the incident, international teams located the bodies buried in makeshift graves, having been hidden from view due to a lack of safe passage amidst the conflict. The Israeli military has since retracted its initial claims about the incident, claiming a mistaken assessment of the emergency vehicles' approach.The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) seeks accountability for the attacks and insists that emergency workers in Gaza are being systematically targeted. PRCS spokeswoman Nebal Farsakh called for an independent international investigation, declaring, “We need justice for the victims.”As the situation continues to unfold, fellow medic Munther Abed, who survived the attack, recounted the shocking ordeal of seeing his colleagues killed. With tears in his eyes, he described the horror of losing his team while the Israeli Defense Forces detained him, keeping him from witnessing their fate.The IDF has vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly, stating its details will be examined comprehensively. Currently, the casualty toll since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas stands over 50,000 in Gaza, while calls for justice echo from families like Umm Mohammed’s, grieving for lost loved ones unjustly taken from them.
