Today marks one year since the killing of 15 Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedics in Gaza—men who set out on 23 March 2025 to save lives and never returned.
The bodies of eight PRCS paramedics, six Civil Defence first responders, and one United Nations staff member were recovered from a shallow grave a week after their killing, after safe passage to the area was secured. This discovery underscored the gravity of the incident and deepened the suffering of the families awaiting answers.
As the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), we remember them not only as humanitarian workers, but as fathers, sons, colleagues, and members of a community that continues to endure profound loss. We represent the victims and their families. Over the past year, we have worked closely with them in their pursuit of truth and justice—an effort marked by grief, resilience, and an unyielding demand for accountability.
This case has been thoroughly documented and investigated. Last year, it has been submitted before the International Criminal Court, where we are seeking accountability for these unlawful killings and for the broader pattern of attacks against medical and humanitarian personnel in Gaza. These were not incidental losses—they were individuals clearly engaged in protected humanitarian work.
“For one year, these families have carried unimaginable grief while being denied the most basic right to justice,” said Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR and principal lawyer representing the victims. “We have taken this case to the International Criminal Court because accountability is not optional—it is a legal obligation. These paramedics were targeted while saving lives. This is a grave breach of international humanitarian law, and those responsible must be held to account. Without justice, these violations will continue.”
For months prior to their killing, and in the time since, medical teams across Gaza have operated under relentless and dangerous conditions. The scale of loss among healthcare workers is staggering. Each paramedic killed is not only a life taken unjustly, but a critical link in an already fragile system of care that has been irreparably weakened. According to PCHR’s legal analysis, these crimes form part of a broader pattern of conduct that amounts to an ongoing genocide.
“There is no doubt: these killings integrate grave international crimes,” added Chantal Meloni, international legal expert supporting the case. “Under international humanitarian law, intentionally directing attacks against medical personnel and humanitarian workers constitutes a war crime. The evidence gathered in this case points to serious violations that demand thorough investigation and prosecution at the highest level.”
We speak today with the voices of the families we represent—families still waiting for answers, still denied justice. Their pain is compounded by the lack of accountability and the continued targeting of those who risk everything to save others.
International humanitarian law is unequivocal: medical personnel, ambulances, and humanitarian workers must be protected at all times. Attacks against them are strictly prohibited. Yet, one year on, these fundamental protections have been repeatedly violated.
This anniversary is not only a moment of remembrance—it is a call to action. We urge the international community to support ongoing efforts at the International Criminal Court and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. Justice delayed is justice denied.
The Gaza paramedics we honor today were carrying out their duty to humanity. We owe them more than remembrance—we owe them justice.
Media Contact:
Hamdi Shaqqura
+972599608808
Basel Alsourani
+972597402073
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
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