Jerusalem: A Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic, who had been missing since late March following a deadly incident that claimed the lives of 15 humanitarian workers in southern Gaza, is now confirmed to be in Israeli custody, according to statements by the PRCS and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Hisham Mhana, spokesperson for the ICRC in Gaza, told Reuters that the organization had received official information confirming that Assad Al-Nsasrah, a PRCS staff member, is currently being held in an Israeli detention facility.
“As per standard practice, we informed the families immediately. In this case, we also informed the Palestine Red Crescent Society as they have special standing as a partner of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” said Mhana.
The Israeli military has not issued a comment on the matter. Mhana also noted that the ICRC has not been granted access to visit Nsasrah or any other Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons since October 7, 2023.
The PRCS, in a post on X, demanded the immediate release of Nsasrah, claiming he was “forcibly abducted” while engaged in humanitarian duties. The organization said he and his team came under intense gunfire, resulting in the deaths of eight colleagues in what it described as a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law.
🚨Urgent: We have been informed by the International Committee of the Red Cross that PRCS medic Assad Al-Nsasrah is being held by the Israeli occupation authorities. His fate had remained unknown since he was targeted along with other PRCS medics in #Rafah.
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) April 13, 2025
📢We call on the… pic.twitter.com/l0oOxujS8G
In March, a mass grave discovered in southern Gaza contained the remains of 15 emergency responders from the Red Crescent, Civil Emergency Service, and the United Nations. Both the UN and PRCS have accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the workers as they were responding to injuries from Israeli airstrikes.
In response, the Israeli military referred Reuters to a previous statement issued on Monday, in which it claimed a thorough investigation into the incident was ongoing. According to a preliminary review, troops fired due to a “perceived threat following a previous encounter in the area,” and six of the deceased were allegedly identified as members of Hamas.
Also Read | DRDO’s Anti-Drone Laser Neutralises Pakistan-Operated UAV Near LoC
However, no evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate the claim that the six individuals were Hamas militants. The organization itself has denied the allegations.
The sole known survivor of the attack, PRCS paramedic Munther Abed, stated that Israeli soldiers fired on vehicles that were clearly marked as emergency response units.
