Gaza/PNN —
For the past sixteen months, paramedics and ambulance crews in Gaza have worked tirelessly to serve their people amid the brutal Israeli aggression and what many describe as a war of extermination. Their mission has come at a great cost, with hundreds of paramedics killed or injured, long absences from their families, and relentless exposure to danger. Yet, they remain unwavering, driven by their belief in the justice of their cause and the humanity of their work.
The story of Khaled Ahmed Saada, a 43-year-old paramedic and ambulance driver from northern Gaza, exemplifies this resilience and dedication. Saada has not seen his family since October 7, 2023, when the current escalation began. Over these months,
He has worked without a single day off, despite being displaced multiple times and enduring arrest, torture, and interrogation. Even as his own family was forced to flee their home more than once, Saada continued his work on the frontlines.
Saada recounts his harrowing experience of being arrested while on duty at Al-Awda Hospital in the Tel Al-Zaatar area of northern Gaza, alongside several colleagues. Israeli forces forced him and his coworkers to strip down to their underwear and remain outside in freezing December temperatures. “On December 17, they kept us in the cold until midnight before transporting us in a truck to Erez,” Saada said. From there, they were taken to a makeshift prison in the Negev desert, consisting of prefabricated containers.
Saada described the harsh conditions of his detention: being bound, blindfolded, denied water and adequate food, and subjected to verbal abuse and insults. He endured 36 days of relentless interrogation by Israeli intelligence. Upon his release, he and other detainees were left at the Kerem Abu Salem crossing and instructed to find their way to Rafah. Saada contacted UNRWA staff, who facilitated his return to Al-Awda Hospital, as the road to his home in Jabalia was impassable due to the ongoing destruction.
Despite his ordeal, Saada resumed his work at Al-Awda Hospital, responding to emergency calls in areas struck by Israeli airstrikes. His family, displaced by the bombardment of Jabalia, remains in Al-Shati refugee camp, preventing him from reuniting with them.
Saada sends a message of solidarity to anyone capable of assisting Gaza’s emergency response efforts. “The Israeli military is targeting innocent civilians—children, women, and families in their homes. Those we rescue are unarmed civilians, not fighters, as the Israeli army falsely claims.”
Saada’s story is one among hundreds, if not thousands, of Palestinians who have risked their lives to serve their people during what many describe as a genocidal campaign against Gaza. Despite the humanitarian nature of their work, Israeli forces continue to target them with indiscriminate brutality.
This report was produced as part of the Qarib project, implemented by the French Media Development Agency (CFI) in partnership with and funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
