Asaad Al Nsasrah was overjoyed to reunite with his father in their family tent in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, after spending more than five weeks in Israeli custody. The emotional moment saw him kiss his father’s hands, reassuring him, "It’s okay dad, I’m here." His family had feared the worst during his absence, thinking they might never see him again.
Mr. Nsasrah is a paramedic with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and was one of the two survivors of a tragic incident on March 23, when Israeli forces attacked a convoy of emergency workers, resulting in the deaths of 15 medical personnel. For three weeks following the attack, his loved ones had no information about his fate. It wasn’t until April 13 that the PRCS confirmed he was being held in an Israeli detention center.
Now released, Mr. Nsasrah has yet to speak publicly about the attack or his experience in detention. However, new evidence is emerging regarding the circumstances of his arrest, including a video recording of a call he made to the PRCS dispatch center during the attack. This recording adds to the growing body of evidence about what transpired that day.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Mr. Nsasrah was arrested based on intelligence suggesting his involvement in terrorist activities. During his detention, he was questioned but ultimately released without a permanent detention order. An IDF spokesperson explained that the decision was made after gathering information during the questioning.
The attack on the convoy began at 5:08 a.m., and gunfire continued for over five minutes, with more than 100 shots fired. A video of Mr. Nsasrah’s call reveals he was apprehended by Israeli soldiers during the chaos. The audio includes commands in Hebrew, indicating a structured military operation.
Chris Lincoln Jones, a former British military officer, analyzed the recording and noted that the language used suggests a formal command structure among the soldiers present. The recording also includes names of soldiers, highlighting a clear chain of command during the incident.
Munther Abed, the only other survivor from the attack, described his experience of being detained alongside Mr. Nsasrah. Unlike Mr. Nsasrah, Abed was held for only a few hours. He recalled seeing Mr. Nsasrah being mistreated before they were placed together, and they communicated quietly to avoid attracting attention from their captors.
Following an internal investigation into the attack, the deputy commander of the IDF unit involved was dismissed, while another officer received a reprimand. However, no charges have been filed against anyone connected to the incident.
Despite Mr. Nsasrah’s release, questions linger about the IDF’s actions and the circumstances surrounding his detention. The IDF has faced criticism for frequently changing its narrative regarding the incident, often in response to new evidence. As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering about the implications for humanitarian workers in conflict zones and the accountability of military forces.