Tue Apr 29 17:21:57 UTC 2025: ## Palestinian Paramedic Freed After Israeli Attack that Killed 15 Colleagues
**Gaza City, April 29, 2025** – Assaad al-Nassasra, a Palestinian paramedic who survived an Israeli attack that killed 15 of his colleagues in March, has been released from Israeli detention after 37 days. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed his release on Tuesday, sharing emotional footage of his reunion with colleagues.
Al-Nassasra, an ambulance driver, was among at least 10 Palestinians released at the Kissufim checkpoint and transferred to a hospital in Deir el-Balah for medical evaluation. The PRCS stated he was arrested while performing his humanitarian duties during the March 23rd massacre in Rafah, where Israeli forces opened fire on clearly identifiable ambulances and medics. The attack, which drew widespread international condemnation, resulted in the deaths of eight PRCS workers, six Palestinian Civil Defence members, and one UN employee. A recovered video showed the medics, wearing reflective uniforms, being shot while inside their ambulances.
The Israeli military’s subsequent investigation, criticized by the PRCS as inadequate, concluded with the dismissal of one soldier and the acknowledgment of “professional failures,” but denied any ethical violations. The PRCS has called for an independent UN investigation.
Al-Nassasra’s release comes amidst a larger context of widespread arrests during the ongoing conflict. According to Addameer, a Palestinian prisoner support network, at least 9,900 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli detention facilities, with many held without charge under administrative detention. Released detainees reported being subjected to torture.
The ongoing war, which began October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 52,300 Palestinian deaths and over 117,905 injuries, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The targeting of first responders and humanitarian workers has been a recurring concern throughout the conflict.
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