On March 23, 2025, the Israeli army launched a large-scale ground and air assault on Rafah, resulting in significant civilian casualties and trapping thousands, including medical personnel.

In response to the escalating violence, the Civil Defense team was dispatched on March 23, 2025, to rescue paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society who had lost contact due to being surrounded by Israeli forces.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society had lost contact with its members during their attempts to evacuate victims from the ongoing strikes in Rafah.

Tragically, five members of the Palestinian Civil Defense are missing following an Israeli attack in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, which occurred six days prior to March 29, 2025.

The Gaza Government Media Office reported that Israeli forces had abducted 15 emergency responders and Civil Defense personnel during their operations in Rafah, calling for international pressure for their release.

On March 28, 2025, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, in coordination with the UN, entered Tel Sultan and recovered the remains of Civil Defense medic Anwar Abdel Hamid Al-Attar, among the nine missing personnel.

The team that discovered Al-Attar's remains expressed shock after finding dismembered body parts and noted that their vehicles had been destroyed by Israeli strikes, indicating a direct targeting of rescue teams.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, since the escalation of violence began in October 2023, more than 50,200 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed, and over 113,900 injured.

As of March 29, 2025, the Civil Defense has been awaiting Israeli approval to search the Barracks area north of Tel Sultan for their missing colleagues.

Since the onset of a surprise aerial campaign on March 18, 2025, the Israeli military has killed 855 individuals and injured nearly 1,900, leading to the collapse of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.