The Martyred Volunteer Raed AL-Shareef: The Man Behind the Camera Who Became the Story

The family of Raed Al-Shareef, a volunteer with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip, was denied the chance to bid a final farewell to their son, who was executed alongside seven EMTs during the Tel Al-Sultan massacre in Rafah on March 23rd.

Raed, who volunteered with the PRCS to document the interventions and sacrifices of its teams targeted by the Israeli occupation forces, had been taking photos and sending out reports until, overnight, he became the story that shook the world, when he was executed and buried in the sand.

Raed Ibraheem Khalil Al-Shareef

Born in March 1999 in Rafah. Raed was the youngest of four brothers. From a young age, he showed a clear passion for helping others, volunteering, and engaging in humanitarian work. He joined the PRCS during the Great March of Return protests in 2018, where his dream of supporting those affected and documenting humanitarian interventions came to life.

After long, exhausting days, Raed would return to his family and talk about the hardships of rescuing civilians during the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. He spoke of how EMTs risk their lives to save others, often sharing his field experiences and the immense challenges they faced. Sometimes, he brought home photos of critical cases, quietly reviewing them during moments of rest with his family on short breaks.

Challenges of Displacement

Despite his father’s warnings that the occupation army spares no one, not EMTs, doctors, or journalists; Raed would reply, “As much as we can, we want to help people.” His deep sense of humanity often required personal sacrifice. His family was displaced to Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, then returned to the rubble of their home in the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah during ceasefire periods, only to be displaced again as the violence escalated.

"For My Mother’s Soul"

His father recalled with sorrow: “He loved doing good, and everything he gave, he considered a gift for his late mother’s soul. His spirit was deeply attached to her”.

In the days leading up to his martyrdom, Raed was missing for three days. When the word spread that EMTs were trapped, his father instinctively feared Raed was among them. He tried calling his son several times, as well as Raed’s friend Saleh Ma’amar, but received no answer.