Red Cross Confirms Detention of Missing Gaza Medic Following Deadly Attack

The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that Gaza medic Assad al-Nassasra is in Israeli custody after going missing during an attack that resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency responders. The Palestinian Red Crescent has demanded his immediate release, alleging he was "forcibly abducted." The situation raises serious concerns over the treatment of medical personnel in conflict zones.

A Palestinian medic, Assad al-Nassasra, who has been missing since an Israeli airstrike that claimed the lives of 15 other emergency workers, is confirmed to be detained by Israeli authorities, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Red Crescent Society alleges that al-Nassasra was “forcibly abducted” by Israeli troops the day of the incident, which has raised alarms regarding the safety of humanitarian personnel operating in conflict-affected areas.

The Red Crescent has called for his immediate release and described the attack as a “full-fledged war crime,” alleging a series of intentional assaults on medical staff and ambulances responding to emergency calls. Eyewitness accounts from a surviving medic detail the harrowing moments during the attack on March 23, 2023, when eight of their colleagues, along with six Civil Defense responders and a UN staff member, were found in shallow graves outside Rafah.

Despite the claims from the Red Crescent, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not confirmed the medic's detention, merely stating they are aware of the accusations surrounding his whereabouts. Initial reports from the IDF suggested the troops fired due to perceived threats; however, a subsequent inquiry contradicted this by admitting an error regarding the actions of the vehicles, which had been operating their emergency lights. This was further supported by footage retrieved from the phone of another medic, revealing the attack lasted over five minutes, with extensive gunfire from the troops.

The ICRC has indicated that they have not been permitted access to visit al-Nassasra and has been unable to visit any Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody since early October. This situation has become a focal point in the ongoing conflict following an escalated response by the Israeli military against Hamas after a significant cross-border assault in October, which killed approximately 1,200 and resulted in the captivity of 251 individuals.

The violence has left a staggering impact, with over 50,940 fatalities reported in Gaza since the conflict intensified. Al-Nassasra's family and the Red Crescent are urging international community involvement to secure his release, emphasizing the vital humanitarian work medical personnel provide in times of conflict.