Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic Ashraf Abu Labda was first on the scene of the attack by an Israeli warplane on an ambulance that killed his two colleagues in Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood on Thursday.
Labda said PRCS ambulances were responding to reports of dead and wounded in the area when they were attacked.
“We received a signal about the presence of martyrs and wounded at the Abu Saeed Crossroads in Tal as-Sultan, Rafah,” Labda said in a video interview.
“Two PRCS ambulances were dispatched to the scene. One of the ambulances was directly targeted. Later, we received a signal from the other ambulance prompting us to head to the location to support them,” he said.
“We found the ambulance on fire. My colleague and I attempted to extinguish the fire, but we were heavily targeted by the shooting of the [Israeli forces]. Given the gravity of the situation, we were forced to withdraw from the area,” he said.
“Despite the immense difficulty and danger, we managed to evacuate the martyrs,” he added.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
