He Knew He Might Not Return The Martyred medic Mohammad Bahloul

Each time Mohammad Subhi Bahloul (36 years old), a medic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), returned home, he would tell his family: “Today we have returned, but tomorrow (God forbid) we might not.”, He repeated these words out of concern, always fearing the worst. His fears were realized when Israeli occupation forces’ bullets prevented him from returning home for the final time. He was killed, along with seven of his colleagues, while another was detained during the Israeli massacre on March 23rd.

Mohammad was fully aware of the dangers of his work. He questioned everything he had learned about international laws and emblem protection, as he witnessed, with his own eyes, the Israeli occupation forces targeting all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, journalists, doctors, paramedics, despite international humanitarian law guaranteeing their protection.

Mohammad Subhi Mahmoud Bahloul

Mohammad was born in 1989 in Al-Jeneina neighborhood in Rafah city, Mohammad was married and a father to five children. His eldest was ten years old, while his youngest, a baby only four months old, was born on January 1, 2025, amid the war. Because of the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip, which had lasted for about a year and a half, Mohammad barely had any time to spend with his newborn.

He earned his nursing degree from Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip and held an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license as both a driver and an EMT. Just a month before his martyrdom, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Al-Quds Open University. Mohammad dreamed of a stable life where he could provide for his family and was dedicated to securing a better future for his children.

During a temporary ceasefire, his family managed to return to their home in Rafah, only to find that it had been burned by the Israeli forces. Today, his family lives in the harsh conditions of displacement in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. They know nothing about the fate of their former home and their previous life, as everything has been tragically torn apart.

A Knight of Humanity Has Fallen

His brother Ali speaks proudly of Mohammad's character and humanity. He was well known in their neighborhood and city, a true knight of humanity, always eager to help others and save lives. Mohammad held on to his courage for many long months during a war that destroyed everything.

Ali describes his martyr brother, saying: "He was so generous that no one could imagine. During his funeral, we heard countless stories about his good deeds. Mohammad was known for his dedication to helping others and was always among the first to rush toward the wounded during the aggression on Rafah, putting his life at risk every time".

Mohammad was fully aware of the risks he faced. He lived amidst death and shrapnel, constantly reminding his family that one day he might not return. His brother Ali recalls that Mohammad often said, "Today we have returned; tomorrow, God forbid, we might not." Yet he continued to return again and again, until the occupation forces finally set a date for his death.

Mohammad’s body, along with the bodies of seven of his colleagues, and seven others from the Palestinian Civil Defense and the United Nations, remained buried under the sand for an entire week, until the hands of their fellow rescuers managed to dig them out and carry them on their shoulders to their final resting place.