"Heartbreak Amid Conflict: A Mother’s Loss of Her Son, a Gaza Medic"

"Umm Mohammed recounts the devastating loss of her son Rifaat Radwan, a 23-year-old medic, who was killed along with 14 colleagues by Israeli troops in a designated safe zone during a medical mission, igniting outrage and calls for accountability."

"My heart and soul died when Rifaat was killed," shares Hajjah Umm Mohammed, the bereaved mother of Rifaat Radwan, a Palestinian paramedic, one of 15 emergency workers tragically shot dead by Israeli forces in southern Gaza last month. At just 23, Rifaat was part of a convoy with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) when it came under fire near Rafah on March 23, a day that marked more than just violence; it stole away her son and shattered her family's life.

Umm Mohammed recalls the harrowing day, expressing disbelief at her son's death: "I never expected him to be killed, especially since the area was classified as 'green,' meaning safe and open to ambulances." The Israeli military contended that they opened fire in response to suspicious movements by the convoy. However, haunting video footage found on Rifaat's phone reveals otherwise, depicting the emergency vehicles with their lights on, responding to a call for assistance.

"Forgive me, mother... this is the path I chose to help people," Rifaat's voice echoes from the footage, captured just before he was fatally shot amid heavy gunfire. His mother believes he was aware he might never return, prompting a plea for forgiveness.

Rifaat dedicated his life to humanitarian service, even helping wounded people cross into Egypt for medical treatment through the Rafah crossing. His commitment to saving lives took a tragic turn when he responded to reports of multiple casualties from an Israeli airstrike that fateful day. "I didn't know he would be one of them [too]," Umm Mohammed laments.

The reality of loss hit hard. Instead of celebrating Eid al-Fitr with Rifaat, the family found themselves receiving his decomposed body from the Red Cross for burial. "I wasn't allowed to see him," she recalls, "it was badly decomposed."

Rifaat was not just a medic; he was a vital support for his family, especially after three of his siblings got married. A survivor of the attack, fellow medic Munther Abed, vividly recalls the trauma of that day. "I dropped to the floor in the back of the vehicle and didn’t hear any sound from my colleagues except their death gasps," he shared, expressing the profound loss of his friends and comrades.

The PRCS believes the incident was a deliberate attack on humanitarian workers. They have called for an independent international investigation to hold those responsible accountable, emphasizing that "we are not targets." This sentiment is echoed by the UN, which confirms that medical personnel must be protected under international humanitarian law.

The IDF initially justified the attack but later revised its account, claiming the emergency workers were perceived as a threat due to previous encounters. Meanwhile, an internal investigation is underway, although skepticism persists regarding its transparency and effectiveness.

The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, with an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel's military responses after the Hamas attacks in October 2023. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by those dedicated to saving lives in conflict and highlights the urgent need for protection and accountability in warfare.