Paramedic's Testimony Challenges Israeli Military Account of Deadly Gaza Attack

Munther Abed, the sole survivor of an attack that claimed 15 lives among Gaza's emergency workers, contests the Israeli military's account, reflecting on the tragic events while calling attention to the urgency for a thorough investigation.

Munther Abed, a paramedic in Gaza, survived a deadly Israeli attack that left 15 emergency workers dead, including his colleagues, by diving to the floor of his ambulance. "I'm the only survivor who saw what happened to my colleagues," he emphasized, sharing photos of the victims from his phone. The attack occurred on March 23 as Abed and his colleagues were responding to reports of gunfire in the Rafah area. "We left the headquarters roughly at dawn... At around 05:00, the agency [UN] car was shot at directly in the street," he recounted to a BBC journalist.

The Israeli military asserts that they opened fire on vehicles approaching soldiers suspiciously, lacking lights and prior coordination, claiming to have targeted Hamas operatives instead. However, Abed contradicts this narrative, insisting that all emergency vehicle lights were operational prior to the assault. After the attack, he was rescued by Israeli soldiers, arrested, and reportedly interrogated for over 15 hours before release.

Israel’s Foreign Minister claimed at a press conference, “The IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance,” reiterating the military’s position that the vehicles posed a threat. However, Munther's testimony highlights that none of the deceased had any affiliations with militant factions. "We don’t belong to any militant group. Our main duty is to offer ambulance services and save lives," he stated emphatically.

The tragedy has left a profound impact on Gaza's paramedic community, with memorials for the fallen and calls for accountability from international agencies. "Fifteen people lost their lives... treated with complete indignity," lamented Sam Rose, acting director of Unrwa’s Gaza office, highlighting a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

International scrutiny increases as calls for a complete investigation remain unfulfilled, with Israel yet to commit to such a review. Since the conflict began, over 1,060 healthcare workers are reported among the fatalities in Gaza, leaving families and colleagues devastated. Abed reflected on the camaraderie shared with his fallen friends, asserting his resolve to expose what he labeled “crimes committed by the occupation."