Ali Mouallem has likely watched the video of his ambulance being struck by an Israeli missile numerous times. However, when he replayed it to a CBC News crew in Nabatieh, south Lebanon, his hands trembled. “Look at what’s in the [ambulance] — the clothes we are wearing, we are only civilians and ambulance teams!” Mouallem, 26, exclaimed. He emphasized that the video contradicts Israeli claims that Lebanese paramedics assist Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shia militant group funded and controlled by Iran.
On April 15, a day before Hezbollah and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, Mouallem and his team faced a deadly situation that resulted in the deaths of four paramedics. The risks for paramedics in south Lebanon responding to calls had been escalating, with reports of Israeli fire targeting civil defense and ambulance teams upon arrival at rescue scenes. To counter Israeli claims of misuse of their humanitarian status, paramedic Fadel Hamadi wore a GoPro camera to document and provide evidence against such allegations.
Describing a tragic sequence of events in or near Mayfadoun, the strike on the paramedics culminated in a devastating “quadruple tap,” a significant escalation from the usual “double tap” military tactic. The strike left Mouallem’s teammate, Mahdi Abu Zaid, injured, emphasizing that they were deliberately targeted by the Israelis. Chief paramedic Mohammad Sleiman, who lost his son in a previous strike, highlighted the risks faced by his team and the tragic loss they have endured.
The paramedics, facing intense scrutiny and accusations, posted the video of the strike online to refute Israeli claims. The footage displayed only injured individuals and a stretcher in the ambulance, disproving IDF’s allegations of dual-purpose use. Paramedic Hamadi considers the incident a war crime and urges the video to serve as evidence of the truth.
As the conflict persists, Lebanon’s medical and rescue workers continue to suffer disproportionately, with over 100 killed on duty. Meanwhile, civil defense workers in Lebanon, including those in Hezbollah-supportive areas, have also been targeted, leading to cautious approaches in rescue operations. Despite uncertainties about the ceasefire’s longevity, Mouallem and his team are committed to their duties, honoring their fallen colleagues by wearing lapel buttons with their photos and keeping their cameras ready.
Israel’s military released visuals purportedly showing ambulances being used for militant purposes by Hezbollah. While the authenticity and context of these visuals remain unverified, the ongoing conflict underscores the challenges faced by medical and rescue personnel in the region.