• A Gaza paramedic has been confirmed in Israeli custody after going missing during an attack on aid workers.
• Israeli forces killed 15 others in the attack, drawing global condemnation.
• The Red Crescent Society demands the immediate release of the detained medic, alleging he was "forcibly abducted."
• The Israeli military's explanation for the attack has faced scrutiny and contradictions.
• The incident has raised serious questions regarding adherence to international humanitarian law.

A Palestinian paramedic, Asaad al-Nasasra, has been confirmed as being in Israeli custody after going missing during an Israeli attack on aid workers in Rafah, southern Gaza, on March 23. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that Nasasra was detained following an assault that resulted in the deaths of 15 other emergency workers. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) emphasized that Nasasra was "forcibly abducted" while performing his humanitarian duties, calling for urgent international intervention for his release, according to The New York Times.

The deadly incident has led to significant outcry, as it involved the killings of eight PRCS medics, six Civil Defence responders, and a UN staff member who were responding to reports of injuries from Israeli airstrikes. The Red Crescent condemned the attack, labeling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law and demanded accountability for what they describe as a "full-fledged war crime." The bodies of those killed were reportedly found buried in a mass grave shortly after the incident, as noted by multiple sources, including Reuters.

The Israeli military initially provided varying explanations for the attack, claiming the emergency vehicles had approached in a "suspicious manner." However, after evidence emerged contradicting this account—specifically a video showing the ambulances were marked with emergency lights—the military modified its assertions. The most recent statement indicated troops fired due to a perceived threat, alleging that some of the deceased individuals were Hamas operatives without offering substantial evidence, according to BBC.

Notably, the ICRC has not been granted access to assess the status of detainees like Nasasra since October 2023, further complicating humanitarian responses in the region. Amidst escalating violence, recent reports indicate that more than 50,900 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of the current conflict following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, also emphasizing the critical humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, according to TRT Global.