The call of Duty Is Paramount Despite Hardships

Saleh Mouamar is a volunteer at the PRCS’ Emergency Medical Services in Rafah (Gaza Strip). He is working alongside emergency medical technicians (EMT) to provide assistance to the local population during the current state of emergency declared by the PRCS in the Gaza Strip.

“On Friday the 11th of July, we received a phone call informing us of an air raid against the Ghannam family home. PRCS’ ambulances immediately headed to the scene. On our way there, we were informed that several children were in the targeted three-story house. The house itself was reduced to a 3-meter high heap of rubble. We started searching for survivors and found a young man wounded in the leg. We took him to hospital then returned to the scene where we continued our search for survivors. By then, large crowds had gathered and were trying to help EMS teams. Neighbors told us Israeli forces targeted the house without using the “knock on the roof” practice, and we were certain that other casualties were under the rubble”, Saleh said.

Saleh’s voice broke, but he continued with his story: “I am very saddened when I see innocent children being targeted. That is why I was moving as swiftly as I could, in order to try to save the lives of children stranded under the rubble. At that precise minute, we heard the all too familiar buzz of Israeli warplanes as they fired a missile at the nearby border area. A huge explosion was heard and the rubble shook beneath us. Fear and panic spread amongst the gathered crowd, then the warplanes fired three more missiles, making the destroyed house shake even more. I was hit in the shoulder by a cement block and suffered deep cuts and bruises. Time seemed to move very slowly. I tried to get up but panic and the stampede prevented me from going on with my work.

When a fourth missile was fired, I collapsed, rolled over then fell on top of a heap of cement and iron bars. God only knows what would have happened had I not held on to a cement pillar. It took me a few moments to regain my strength. I managed to stand up with the help of a colleague, and was taken to hospital for treatment. I felt very sad because I would have liked the ambulance to be transporting civilian casualties, not a wounded PRCS’ EMT. At the hospital, the doctor told me to get some rest so my wounds could heal, but I insisted on returning to the EMS center where my help was needed. An hour later, I was in Al Nassr (East of Rafah) with my PRCS’ colleagues, discharging my humanitarian duty”.