Mustafa Khafaja

Their life

Full Name: Mustafa Khafaja

Sex: Male

Nationality: Palestinian

Profession: Paramedic, Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS)

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

Circumstances of Death:

Part of a rescue convoy responding to an earlier Israeli attack

Ambulances and emergency vehicles were clearly marked but came under heavy Israeli fire

Killed along with 14 other rescue workers; bodies were later buried in a mass grave

Some bodies showed signs of execution, including at least one with hands tied.

Personal Information:
Full Name: Mustafa Khafaja

Sex: Male

Nationality: Palestinian

Profession: Paramedic, Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS)

Marital Status: Unknown

Age: Unknown

Background & Career:
Mustafa Khafaja was a dedicated paramedic working with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), an organization committed to providing emergency medical assistance in Gaza. As a first responder, he was known for his courage, humanitarian commitment, and selflessness in the face of relentless conflict. His work involved treating wounded civilians, responding to airstrikes, and navigating extreme danger to save lives.

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

Mustafa was part of a convoy of paramedics and emergency responders dispatched to rescue injured colleagues after an earlier Israeli attack. The team, traveling in clearly marked ambulances and emergency vehicles, was targeted by Israeli forces in Tel al-Sultan, Rafah.

According to reports from the United Nations (OCHA), the PRCS, and eyewitnesses:

The paramedics were shot one by one as they attempted to assist the wounded.

The rescue vehicles, including Red Crescent ambulances, civil defense trucks, and a UN vehicle, were attacked.

Their bodies were later buried in a mass grave, allegedly by an Israeli bulldozer.

One victim was recovered with hands tied, indicating possible execution.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) later confirmed the deaths of eight of its paramedics, six civil defense workers, and one UN employee in what has been called one of the deadliest attacks on humanitarian workers in recent history.

Legacy & Impact:
Mustafa Khafaja's death highlights the ongoing risks faced by medical personnel in conflict zones. His dedication to saving lives, even under the most extreme conditions, reflects the bravery and resilience of Gaza’s paramedics. The attack on his team has been widely condemned as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, with human rights organizations calling for an independent investigation.

His memory lives on through the continued efforts of his colleagues and international outcry against targeted attacks on medical workers in war zones.

How they died

shot and killed

A plea from the family

​As of now, there are no publicly available statements or pleas from the surviving relatives or family members of Mustafa Khafaja, the Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic who was killed on March 23, 2025, in Rafah, Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has officially condemned the attack, describing it as a "tragedy for humanitarian work and humanity" and calling for accountability for what they term a war crime.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources