Ashraf Abu Labda

Their life

Ashraf Abu Labda was a dedicated Palestinian paramedic and first responder with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). As a humanitarian worker, he served on the frontlines of one of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, offering aid to the wounded and dying in Gaza amid relentless Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives.

On March 23, 2025, Ashraf joined a PRCS convoy dispatched to Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighborhood to recover colleagues and civilians wounded in an earlier attack. The convoy, composed of clearly marked ambulances and emergency vehicles, came under direct Israeli fire, and Ashraf, along with 14 other medics and civil defense personnel, was killed. His body was later recovered from a mass grave, still in uniform and wearing medical gloves—evidence of his active duty at the time of his death.

Ashraf's life embodied the courage and selflessness of Gaza’s emergency responders, who have been targeted throughout the conflict despite protections under international humanitarian law. His story is one of sacrifice, serving humanity under fire, and standing for life in the face of death.

Unfortunately, further personal information such as his age, marital status, or family details has not been made public.

Ashraf Abu Labda was a Palestinian paramedic and first responder with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS)—one of the many brave humanitarian workers committed to saving lives amid one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of our time. Based in Gaza, Ashraf dedicated himself to emergency medical work in conditions that few around the world could imagine—under bombardment, siege, and the constant threat of death.

Ashraf’s daily mission was to provide critical aid to the injured, often rushing into areas moments after airstrikes or shelling. Alongside his colleagues, he offered not only medical care but a symbol of hope and resilience to communities overwhelmed by trauma and loss. In Gaza, where ambulances and medics are no longer protected by the laws of war, his work was not just dangerous—it was a direct act of resistance against death and despair.

On March 23, 2025, Ashraf and his team were sent to Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, responding to a distress call after an earlier Israeli airstrike. Their goal was to retrieve the wounded and recover the dead. The area was previously marked as a safe zone, and their convoy—composed of ambulances, civil defense vehicles, and UN-marked cars—was clearly identified as humanitarian. Nevertheless, Israeli ground forces reportedly surrounded the neighborhood, cutting off all exits.

According to the United Nations and eyewitness accounts, Ashraf and his fellow medics were targeted deliberately, shot “one by one” as they carried out their mission. Their bodies were later discovered buried in a mass grave, still in their uniforms, with some showing signs of execution-style killings. Ashraf was among the 15 aid workers whose deaths sparked international outrage and renewed calls for the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.

Despite the dangers, Ashraf had continued his work day after day, aware of the risks but guided by a deep sense of duty to his people. His sacrifice reflects the daily reality faced by healthcare workers in Gaza, where over 1,000 medical personnel have been killed since October 2023. His legacy is one of service, courage, and unyielding humanity in the face of cruelty.

Details about Ashraf’s personal life—such as his age, family background, or whether he was married—have not been publicly documented. But those who served with him remember him as a committed, compassionate professional who placed the lives of others above his own.

How they died

Gunshot Wounds

A plea from the family

​The family of Ashraf Abu Labda, a Palestinian paramedic killed by Israeli forces on March 23, 2025, has expressed profound grief and called for enhanced protection of emergency medical personnel in conflict zones. His father described Ashraf's death as a "cold-blooded" act, emphasizing the need for international intervention to safeguard humanitarian workers. The family is urging global leaders and organizations to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated and that those responsible are held accountable. ​

Why we remember them

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

References & sources