Daily they risk their lives amid the horror of airstrikes to help those they can… and bring back the bodies of those they cannot. They battle on because ‘this is what we have to do for our people’. Hugh Naylor, Foreign Correspondent, spent an afternoon with Gaza’s emergency responders
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Braving the threat of air strikes and shelling, he has ferried scores of wounded men, women and children — and presumably fighters — to hospital from the wreckage of bombed-out Gaza homes. Heidi Levine for The National -
‘Sometimes you think this could be the end of your life. But you have to do this because there is no one else who will,’ Mr Shahwan said. Heidi Levine for The National -
Bassam Ali Sayma, a paramedic that works for Gaza’s Red Crescent with an injured boy as they arrive to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on July 11,2014. The child suffered shrapnel wounds from an Israeli air strike near his home in Nussarat, Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National -
Despite being focused on only humanitarian work and not holding any political affiliation, sometimes the emergency responders are hit by Israeli attacks. Seen here is a row of destroyed ambulances that have been targeted in the past are seen on top of the headquarters of Gaza’s Red Crescent headquarters in Gaza City on July 11,2014. Heidi Levine for The National -
Khalil Abou Foul, the Red Crescent’s director of disaster management in Gaza, said he was concerned about the safety of his 120 full-time emergency medical technicians and 250 volunteers. Heidi Levine for The National -
Despite coordinating with the Israelis, providing them names, IDs, vehicle-number plates, he said his personnel are at great risk. ‘There is no respect for ambulance workers on the Israeli side,’ Mr Abou Foul said. Heidi Levine for The National -
But to many here, their courage under fire makes them heroes, including during the current onslaught that has killed at least 135 Palestinians and injured hundreds more. Heidi Levine for The National -
Paramedics of Gaza's Palestinian Red Crescent taking an opportunity to sleep at their headquarters in the early evening after a long day of assisting causalities from Israeli air strikes and other emergencies July 11,2014. Heidi Levine for The National -
Paramedic Ayman Shahwan and others on his team wheeling in a young Palestinian man the team rescued near the Gaza Israeli border on July 11, 2014. The injured man went into shock following an Israeli air strike near his home. Heidi Levine for The National -
A wounded Palestinian boy is rushed into a red crescent ambulance after an Israel air strike in Zeitune , Gaza July 11, 2014. Heidi Levine for The National -
Ayman Shahwan and his colleagues at Gaza's Red Crescent taking a rest. Drowsy from their Ramadan fast and having only two hours sleep the night before, they did their best to resist the urge to doze, knowing that at any moment they could be called to the scene of the latest attack. Heidi Levine for The National -
Bassam Ali Sayma, a paramedic that works for Gaza’s Red Crescent, treats an injured boy in an ambulance as they travel to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on July 11,2014. The child suffered shrapnel wounds from an Israeli air strike near his home Gaza City. Heidi Levine for The National -
Paramedics resting in the early evening after a long day of assisting causalities from Israeli air strikes and other emergencies. Heidi Levine for The National -
The current conflict has so far killed at least 135 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and injured hundreds more. Heidi Levine for The National
In pictures: Gaza’s ambulance crews dodge airstrikes to save lives
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