A Mother's Grief: The Tragic Loss of a Young Medic in Gaza

This poignant account details the devastating impact of the conflict on families like that of Rifaat Radwan, a young medic killed while serving others. His mother's memories reveal the dangers faced by medical personnel in Gaza, along with calls for accountability and justice amid the ongoing turmoil.

"My heart and soul died when Rifaat was killed," reflects Hajjah Umm Mohammed, who lost her son, a 23-year-old paramedic, amid the violence in Gaza. On March 23, Rifaat Radwan was traveling with a convoy of emergency vehicles through Rafah, an area previously deemed 'safe' for ambulances, when Israeli troops opened fire, resulting in the deaths of 15 emergency workers.

Umm Mohammed recounts her disbelief and dread as she sent her son off on what she thought would be a routine mission. "I never expected him to be killed," she says, recalling the night of the incident. The Israeli military suggested the convoy had approached them suspiciously, but video evidence from Rifaat's phone contradicted this claim, revealing that their headlights were on as they responded to calls for help.

After the attack, it took a week for Rifaat's body and those of his colleagues to be retrieved from a shallow grave. Instead of celebrating Eid al-Fitr with him, Umm Mohammed found herself collecting his remains from a hospital, where they were so badly decomposed that she couldn't see him. "He was absolutely beautiful," she laments, sharing how he was the family's sole supporter after his siblings married.

While the Israeli military has promised an investigation, the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) insists medics are being deliberately targeted, calling for an independent inquiry into the killings. PRCS spokeswoman Nebal Farsakh expressed deep outrage, stating, "We need justice for the victims... This is not acceptable."

Munther Abed, a fellow medic who survived the attack, described the chaos and horror of that day, stating that he witnessed the deaths of his colleagues and later faced intimidation while detained by Israeli forces. The PRCS asserts that the area was not classified as a "red zone," and preliminary forensic reports suggest the medics were shot deliberately.

Families like Umm Mohammed’s continue to suffer as the violence escalates, leading to devastating losses. The unresolved conflict has resulted in an astonishing death toll—over 50,750 in Gaza since hostilities began—highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian protections for medical workers in conflict zones. The world watches as the cycle of grief and retribution unfurls, begging the question: will there ever be accountability and peace?