In a shocking turn of events that has drawn global outrage, the only paramedic who survived the March 23rd attack on aid workers in southern Gaza was spared after pleading for his life in Hebrew, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) revealed.
The survivor, Assad Al-Nassasrah, was among a group of 16 emergency and aid workers—15 of whom were killed—when Israeli soldiers opened fire on clearly marked ambulances and emergency personnel. According to Younis Al-Khatib, President of the PRCS, Al-Nassasrah survived the brutal incident by shouting in Hebrew, “Don’t shoot. I am Israeli,” and claiming his mother was a Palestinian citizen of Israel. This moment of confusion reportedly caused Israeli soldiers to hesitate, sparing his life.
Al-Nassasrah was later detained by Israeli forces and only released on April 29. He has yet to speak publicly, but the PRCS believes his testimony will be critical in holding those responsible accountable.
“This confusion made him survive,” Al-Khatib told journalists in Geneva. “Assad will be a witness that can put all the Israeli stories in shambles.”
The March 23rd shootings took place under the cover of darkness. Israeli forces claimed the vehicles approached their position without lights or identification and alleged that the people inside were Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants using Red Crescent vehicles for cover. However, video evidence retrieved from a slain paramedic’s phone, and later released by the PRCS, tells a different story. The footage shows ambulances and emergency trucks with lights on and medical personnel in uniform, all clearly marked, being targeted by gunfire.
Eight of the victims were PRCS staff. Their bodies, along with others, were found in a shallow grave a week later by UN and PRCS teams. The tragedy drew condemnation from international humanitarian groups and triggered both internal and external calls for investigation.
The Israeli military has admitted to “several professional failures” in the handling of the incident. A deputy commander has since been dismissed, and a full investigation by the military advocate general is underway, with potential criminal charges pending.
Al-Nassasrah’s detention and mental state have raised further concerns. PRCS officials said he was treated “like a Palestinian,” enduring harsh interrogation conditions that have affected his mental health. Videos shared after his release show him in tears, hugging fellow medics and appearing visibly disoriented during a hospital check-up.
Al-Khatib emphasized that the PRCS does not send its personnel into harm’s way expecting them to die. “We think the international community is responsible to provide justice to those killed,” he stated. The organization is preparing to work with legal teams and may bring the case to international courts and the United Nations Security Council.
This incident underscores the increasingly perilous conditions for humanitarian workers in Gaza and the urgent need for international accountability.
