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Release of Palestinian Paramedic Amid Ongoing Violence in Gaza

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has announced the release of Assad al-Nassasra, a paramedic detained by the Israeli military. His detention came during a violent incident in southern Gaza last month that resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency workers.

Assad al-Nassasra had been unaccounted for for three weeks until the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed his detention status. He was one of ten individuals released at an Israeli border crossing with Gaza this past Tuesday.

The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement regarding his release, although they acknowledged his detention during discussions of an internal inquiry into the incident that led to multiple casualties among Gaza’s emergency personnel. The military’s inquiry cited “several professional failures.” In response, the PRCS condemned this assessment, labeling it an attempt to justify what they describe as a “war crime.”

On March 23, eight paramedics from PRCS, six first responders from Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, and one employee of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were killed while responding to an emergency call in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah. Their bodies were discovered buried in shallow graves a week later, alongside the wreckage of their vehicles.

A surviving PRCS paramedic, who was detained with al-Nassasra, reported that they were released following their capture. Initially, the Israeli military claimed that their forces opened fire on “suspicious vehicles” operating without headlights or emergency lights. However, this narrative was later retracted after video evidence retrieved from one of the deceased paramedics’ phones contradicted the military’s statements, showing the convoy had indeed activated its emergency lights.

The video footage revealed the moments leading up to the shooting, including sounds of gunfire as paramedic Rifaat Radwan exited his ambulance, concluding with his final prayers heard just prior to the approach of Israeli soldiers.

On April 20, the military’s internal investigation suggested that the deaths of the PRCS and Civil Defence workers stemmed from an “operational misunderstanding” by troops who believed they were under threat. In contrast, the civilian death of the UNRWA employee was described as resulting from breaches of operational orders.

The deputy commander involved has been dismissed due to his responsibilities and failure to provide an accurate assessment during debriefing. Nevertheless, the PRCS rejected the military’s findings, asserting that such reports perpetuate a narrative aimed at shielding Israeli soldiers from accountability.

They argued that the Israeli military’s reports echoed long-standing insinuations of Gaza rescue teams being affiliated with Hamas, a justification for targeting medical personnel and vehicles emblazoned with the protective symbols recognized by the Geneva Conventions.

A senior UN official in Gaza highlighted the implications of insufficient accountability on international law, warning that it contributes to a more perilous global environment.

Escalation of Violence in Gaza

Amid the tensions, reports indicated that at least four Palestinians were killed in Israeli aerial strikes targeting tents in the southern city of Khan Younis on Tuesday.

The Israeli military initiated a campaign against Hamas following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and approximately 251 hostages taken. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, the current conflict has resulted in at least 52,365 fatalities.

Since the resumption of Israeli military operations on March 18, following the end of a two-month ceasefire, over 2,270 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives, with the military aiming to exert pressure on Hamas regarding the remaining hostages.

Recent Palestinian media reports cited multiple fatalities from airstrikes across Gaza City, including significant casualties in the al-Shaaf area and in southern tents housing displaced individuals near Khan Younis.

Israel has imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid and other essentials to Gaza since March 2, leading to critical shortages in food, medicine, and fuel as noted by the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the UN’s human rights chief emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to prevent a complete breakdown of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Volker Türk stated, “Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, alongside any forms of collective punishment.”

The UN has affirmed that Israel has obligations under international law to facilitate the supply of essentials to the 2.1 million Palestinians residing in Gaza. However, Israel contends that it is upholding its legal responsibilities, asserting that 25,000 truckloads of supplies had been delivered during the recent ceasefire, while accusing Hamas of misappropriating these resources—an allegation that Hamas disputes.

Source
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