JERUSALEM, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces today attacked PRCS medical teams while on duty in the occupied city of Jerusalem, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
PRCS said in a press statement that the occupation forces carried out one attack against one of the ambulances and its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at Ban al-Asbat area. The vehicle was hit with batons, and the EMT was brutally pushed and attacked, slamming the door of the ambulance on his leg, which has left him with a serious injury. In addition, the occupation forces directly shot a sound canister on the ambulance, breaking the side mirror on the driver’s side.
In another incident, PRCS added, rubber-coated bullets were fired directly at one PRCS mini-ambulance while carrying an injury.
Israeli occupation forces, PRCS said, have also denied four ambulances and five mini ambulances and their crews from accessing the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the calls for support due to the high number of injuries resulting from the occupation forces’ attacks.
PRCS EMTs were also denied from accessing an injury at Bab al-Amoud area, as well as denied access to sick persons in the Old City and al-Issawiya, endangering the lives of patients.
PRCS teams were only able to deal with 12 injuries, due to restricting their access to the sick and wounded. They were later able to provide medical support at Qalandia, north of Jerusalem, to 25 Palestinians released from the detention center, 2 of them were transported to hospitals.
“International Humanitarian Law strictly prohibits targeting medical missions, including EMTs and ambulances. It also stresses on the obligation to protect medical personnel, prevent them from any attack or obstruction, facilitate and not interfere with their work. In the same context, PRCS emphasizes the prohibition of attacks on the wounded and sick and preventing them from, or arbitrarily restricting their access to medical services,” the statement read.
PRCS called on “the international community and all state parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 applicable to the occupied Palestinian territory as well as all relevant legal and humanitarian organizations to immediately intervene and take effective measures to hold Israeli occupation authorities accountable for their escalating violations, and to comply with IHL, and provide protection for medical missions and civilians.”
K.F.
