Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Shortly before 2:46 PM on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, 33-year-old paramedic Hussein Fayez Matar Al-Muqeed (Abu Muhammad) was killed, and up to three of his colleagues were injured in an alleged Israeli “double tap” strike on an ambulance in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, near a school sheltering displaced civilians. One of the injured paramedics, Khaled Suhail Abed (Abu Anas), later succumbed to his injuries. The paramedics were attacked while they were rescuing the injured civilians from a previous strike.
Shehab Agency was the first to report about one killed and three paramedics injured on Twitter/X t at 2:46 PM. Some other sources, including Al-Araby, reported about two injured paramedics. The Palestine Chronicle reported on April 8 that three paramedics were killed, identified as Hussein Al-Muqeed and Khaled Abed, though the identity of the third paramedic was not reported.
Fares Afaneh, Director of Ambulance and Emergency at Kamal Adwan Hospital, said about this incident: “Our crew moved to rescue those wounded by an Israeli bombing, and upon arriving, it was exposed to another bombing. Our crew was bombed while working.” Al-Araby’s correspondent in Deir al-Balah, Basil Khalaf, reported that the paramedics were on a mission to recover four civilians who were killed during the alleged Israeli bombing of a gathering of citizens in Ezbet Beit Hanoun (assessed separately in ISPT040424a).
According to a CNN report quoting an ambulance driver for the hospital, Abdallah Hemaid, an area near a school sheltering displaced civilians was hit with an alleged Israeli artillery bombardment when some civilians were scavenging in a field for plants or vegetation they could eat. Abdallah Hemaid said that when the initial attack took place, nearby civilians rushed over to try to help the injured. But then another round of artillery fire killed three people and injured several children, all from the same family. Then two ambulances with four paramedics from the Kamal Adwan Hospital headed to the area when a third round of artillery fire erupted, killing one of the paramedics and critically injuring three others.
At 10:47 PM the Agency posted an image of the dead body of Hussein Fayez Matar, lying on a stretcher in his uniform. Later it also shared a video of his fellow paramedics crying and mourning his death. One of the colleagues said that the late Hussein foresaw his death. He told his colleagues that he saw in a dream his martyrdom on the 25th day of Ramadan, the day he died.
Hussein’s former colleague and friend for over 15 years who used to study together with him at the Islamic University in Gaza City, a nurse Yaqoub Hamad, also confirmed to the Palestine Chronicle that the deceased paramedic had seen his forthcoming death in a dream. According to him, Hussein had this dream at the beginning of Ramadan.
He added that Hussein remained at his post at the Kamal Adwan Hospital from the very first day of the war on Gaza, refusing to leave the northern area of the Strip, enduring hunger and thirst for the last six months. Hamad also said that Hussein helped save dozens of wounded Palestinians, evacuated hundreds of injured people, and provided medical services and first aid to the wounded, working tirelessly, day and night. “Hussein was killed while wearing his medic uniform,” emphasized Hamad, calling for the international community to investigate.
Hussein Fayez Matar was also described as a person who memorized the Quran. According to Yaqoub Hamad, Hussein had a beautiful voice, leading people in Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan.
A Facebook user Algerian Gazan abu Osama wrote that Hussein was a refugee to Gaza from the village of Na’alia, Ashkelon district, and used to be Imam and preacher of the Nour al-Din Zengi Mosque in Izbet Abd Rabbo in Jabalia. He added that Hussein “had a soft, delicate voice, was polite, kind and gentle, and also the bold and courageous…the one with light blood and beautiful character and morals.”
Hussein Raafat Daher also praised Abu Muhammad in his post: “the martyr of the fasting person, the one who memorized the Book of God, the one of easy-going character, the wise one, the son of Jabalia camp, the beloved paramedic/ Hussein Fayez Matar.” Abeer fayiz shared a picture of the late Hussein – a young man in a blue T-shirt and a cap.
Palestinian Emergency Knights Association also wrote a tribute to the late paramedic, writing “You hurt our hearts, Hussein💔” and calling him one of the knights of the Palestinian Emergency Knights Association.
One of the injured paramedics, Khaled Suhail Abed (Abu Anas), later died of his injuries on April 8th. His death was mourned in the posts by Abo Yosef, Amir Fares, Yousef al-Hindi and others. Yousef al-Hindi wrote, “You joined your wife and children in the gardens of bliss, God willing.”
Amir Fares wrote that Khaled’s wife and children had been killed at the beginning of the war. Khaled nevertheless continued to help the injured and recover the dead. Amir described the late Khaled as calm, having a high moral character, and loving his colleagues. He shared his images – one in the uniform and medical gloves, and another one showing his dead body carried by his colleagues.
One more paramedic, Nabil Mahmoud Abu Saqr, was reportedly seriously injured. It is not clear from the sources whether he survived or also succumbed to his injuries. Bassel Tayeh wished a speedy recovery for Nabil in his Facebook post, sharing an image of a young smiling bearded man in uniform. Nabil’s wife also shared a post praying for his speedy recovery.
Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.
The sources differed regarding the nature of the strike. While CNN reported that the paramedics were killed in artillery shelling, most Twitter/X users mentioned airstrikes.
The incident occured at approximately 2:46 pm local time.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Beit Hanoun (ابيت حانون), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.538477, 34.536837. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (87) [ collapse]
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