INTERNATIONAL

‘Last surrounded by Israeli tanks’: Paramedics missing after brave rescue attempt for trapped child

By News Desk

January 31, 2024

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has sounded the alarm, expressing deep concern over the fate of the brave paramedics who embarked on a perilous mission to rescue 6-year-old Hind, trapped inside a vehicle in Gaza City.

In a distressing turn of events, the PRCS has lost contact with the paramedics, leaving a shroud of uncertainty regarding the success of their vital rescue operation.

Adding to the grim situation, an audio recording documented the harrowing moment when 15-year-old Layan Hamadeh, in communication with the PRCS team, was targeted by gunfire.

Tragically, Layan lost her life in the line of duty, and little Hind remained ensnared in the vehicle, surrounded by the ominous presence of Israeli tanks and soldiers.

Despite the valiant efforts of the PRCS ambulance team dispatched the previous evening to rescue Hind, their return remains unaccounted for, and communication has been severed for approximately 18 hours.

The PRCS grapples with the agonizing uncertainty of the paramedics’ fate and the unresolved question of whether they managed to successfully evacuate Hind from the perilous situation.

The dire circumstances unfolded as Israeli occupation forces encircled Hind’s vehicle at Fares Gas Station in Gaza City after targeting her family.

The PRCS clarified that Hind was in the company of her mother’s uncle, Bashar Hamada, and the vehicle fell under fire from the occupation forces, resulting in the tragic loss of six family members, with Hind standing as the lone survivor.

As the hours tick by, the remaining family members, along with Hind, continue to be trapped inside the confines of uncertainty, emphasizing the ongoing peril and hazards faced by civilians in the region. The incident stands as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the pressing humanitarian crisis in the area.