Awad Darawshe was one of many paramedics assigned to work at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel on October 7. That morning, thousands of Hamas terrorists descended on the event, indiscriminately shooting the festivalgoers.

Israeli authorities so far recovered 260 bodies from the grounds of the festival. The 23-year-old paramedic was one of them. In giving his own life, however, Darawshe saved many others. 

Darawshe was part of Yossi Ambulances’s paramedic team. When the station’s leader told all staff to leave the area immediately, the 23-year-old refused to evacuate. 

He continued treating the wounded as bullets were whistling above his head and grenades were exploding all around. Eventually, however, the paramedic was shot dead. 

According to the Foreign Ministry, the terrorists then stole Darawshe’s ambulance and drove it to the Gaza Strip. 

Several days later his body was identified by relatives and buried on Friday in Iksal, an Arab council in northern Israel. The Darawshe family, who are all Palestinian Israelis, said he decided to stay put because he believed he could reason with the perpetrators. 

The family adds that although they feel immense hurt, they are very proud of him. 

“Awad was a dedicated volunteer of ours in the Nazareth chapter of United Hatzalah for the past three years,” United Hatzalah International Spokesperson Raphael Poch told ISRAEL21c.

“He always gave his time and energy to help others whenever they needed medical assistance. He never said no when someone asked for help, no matter who the person was or where they came from. He was a young and unassuming individual, and we are outraged and deeply saddened by his brutal murder. His memory will live on and inspire many others to volunteer and help save lives.”