Ashraf: Abu Lebdeh: A Newlywed

Ashraf Abu Lebdeh, a medic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), often said he was still a newlywed, having married just days before the war started, He never had the chance to enjoy a happy married life and had hoped the war would end so he could start over.

Just two months ago, Abu Lebdeh welcomed his first and only child. He was nearing his 33rd birthday when, according to his family, the Israeli army, whom they described as untrustworthy, ended his life and left his son orphaned during the medics massacre in Tel Al-Sultan at the end of March.

Ashraf Nasser Abdel Hai Abu Lebdeh

Ashraf Nasser Abdel Hai Abu Lebdeh was born on April 27, 1993, in Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah city. He completed his university studies with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Al-Aqsa University, and later began volunteering with the PRCS.

In 2023, Ashraf got married and, during the most recent ceasefire two months ago, he and his wife welcomed their newborn son, Wi'am. It was a moment filled with joy and hope. Ashraf had long dreamed of watching his son grow up, succeed in his studies, bring joy to the family, and eventually start a family of his own.

Ashraf began his voluntary service with the PRCS in 2021, driven by a deep passion for helping others and making a meaningful contribution to humanitarian efforts. He was ambitious and committed to building a bright future. Among his colleagues and relatives, he was known for his kind heart and the affection he inspired in those around him.

We Were Expecting the Crime

Ashraf’s brother, Sami, recalls: “Every single day during the war, he went out on missions filled with danger, always at risk of falling victim to an Israeli attack.”

Sami explained that Ashraf had postponed marriage for years due to the harsh conditions faced by young people in the Gaza Strip under the blockade. When his firstborn son, Wi'am, arrived during a temporary truce, Ashraf was overwhelmed with happiness. Everyone hoped the calm would last, but the war returned, and with it, claimed his life.

Despite the difficult experience of displacement from Tel Al-Sultan to Khan Younis, Ashraf never gave up his humanitarian work. He was courageous and selfless; he remained dedicated to helping others until the end. His journey, just beginning, was tragically cut short when Israeli forces killed him along with seven of his PRCS colleagues during the Tel Al-Sultan massacre in Rafah.