Ezzedine Shaat

Their life

Full Name: Ezzedine Shaat

Sex: Male

Nationality: Palestinian

Profession: Paramedic, Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS)

Cause of Death: Shot and killed by Israeli forces on March 23, 2025, while on a rescue mission in Rafah, southern Gaza

Circumstances of Death:

Ezzedine Shaat was part of a rescue convoy sent to retrieve injured colleagues who had been attacked earlier by Israeli forces.

His convoy, which included clearly marked ambulances and UN vehicles, came under heavy Israeli fire.

Shot one by one, he and his colleagues were killed while trying to assist the wounded.

After the attack, their bodies were buried in a mass grave.

Some victims, including Ezzedine, showed signs of execution, with at least one body found with hands tied.

Ezzedine Shaat’s death is part of the tragic loss of 15 paramedics and rescue workers, marking one of the deadliest attacks on medical personnel in recent years. His dedication to saving lives despite the risks is a testament to the courage and selflessness of those in the field of humanitarian work.

Ezzedine Shaat was a paramedic working with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), one of the primary humanitarian organizations providing emergency medical care in the Gaza Strip. As a dedicated first responder, he was responsible for treating the injured, often under perilous conditions due to the ongoing conflict in the region. His work involved responding to airstrikes, providing critical care in dangerous areas, and saving lives in the face of an ever-escalating crisis.

Shaat was part of a larger team of rescue workers and paramedics committed to offering humanitarian aid in an environment where medical personnel face grave risks from the ongoing conflict. His role was essential in providing life-saving interventions to civilians and the injured in Gaza.

Incident Leading to Death:
Date of Death: March 23, 2025

Location: Rafah, southern Gaza

Cause of Death: Shot and killed by Israeli forces during a rescue operation

On March 23, 2025, Ezzedine Shaat was part of a rescue convoy dispatched to retrieve injured colleagues who had been attacked by Israeli forces earlier that day. His convoy included clearly marked ambulances, civil defense trucks, and UN vehicles. However, the convoy was ambushed and attacked by Israeli forces, who opened fire on the vehicles, killing Shaat and 14 other paramedics and rescue workers.

Reports from the United Nations (OCHA), Palestinian Red Crescent, and eyewitnesses indicate that the paramedics were shot one by one as they attempted to rescue and treat the wounded. After the attack, the bodies of the victims were gathered and buried in a mass grave, with some showing signs of execution. At least one of the victims had his hands tied, suggesting a possible summary execution.

Legacy & Impact:
The death of Ezzedine Shaat highlights the continued dangers faced by medical personnel in conflict zones and underscores the vulnerability of humanitarian workers in war-torn regions. His tragic death is part of a larger pattern of attacks on medical workers in Gaza, where at least 1,060 healthcare workers have been killed in the 18 months following Israel's offensive against Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

His death serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by paramedics and other healthcare workers in the pursuit of saving lives, despite the extreme risks they face. The international community has expressed outrage over such targeted attacks on medical personnel, calling for justice and accountability.

Ezzedine Shaat, along with the other paramedics killed in the attack, has become a symbol of the selfless dedication of healthcare workers caught in the crossfire of a brutal conflict. His memory continues to inspire others working in the field of humanitarian aid.

How they died

shot and killed

he was shot and killed by Israeli forces on March 23, 2025, in Rafah, southern Gaza

A plea from the family

​At this time, there are no publicly available statements or pleas from the surviving relatives or family members of Ezzedine Shaat, one of the Palestinian paramedics killed on March 23, 2025, in Rafah, Gaza. This absence of public expression may be due to personal privacy preferences, security concerns, or the challenging circumstances in the region.​ However, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the organization to which Ezzedine belonged, has publicly mourned the loss of their personnel. They referred to the killings as a "tragedy for humanitarian work and humanity" and called for accountability, labeling the incident as a "war crime"

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Ezzedine Shaat, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources