OPT: Weekly Press Release 6 - 12 Sep 2003

During this reporting period, the Israeli Army has continued to violate the First and Fourth Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by denying freedom of movement to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams, who were threatened by gunfire, in addition to physical and verbal abuses. Delays, denial of access and arbitrary searches had a negative impact on the sick and the wounded in, Nablus, Gaza, Qalqilia, and Bethlehem.
Gaza 6 September 2003 (13:00): The EMS station at Jabalia received a call about an injured person located in the eastern part of Jabalia. Immediately, a PRCS ambulance was dispatched to the area, but the ambulance couldn't reach the injured person due to Israeli Army tank fire. The driver called the station and requested ICRC coordination to pass the area. Meanwhile the injured person who was later identified as a 17 year-old male youth, called the PRCS emergency 101 number from his own mobile and asked for help. The youth managed to inform the EMS that he was shot in both legs. The ambulance crew at the scene began giving the youth directions on how to stop the bleeding.

At (19:00) the ambulance was obliged to return back as it received a call from the D.C.O informing them that the Israeli authorities refused ICRC coordination. The following day, 7/9/2003, the station received a call from the D.C.O informing them that a PRCS ambulance can transport the injured person. Finally, the ambulance crew found the body of the 17-year-old youth after he was left bleeding for 18 hours.

Nablus, 11 September 2003 (16:00): A PRCS ambulance, on its way to transport a patient was stopped at the Zattara checkpoint. An Israeli settler standing beside the checkpoint, shouted verbal abuses at the crew and also attempted to throw stones at the ambulance but the soldiers ordered the crew to leave the area.

In addition to the above, the following table lists incidents of denial and delay of access during this reporting period.

These incidents constitute a breach of articles 19, 24 and 25 of the First Geneva Convention, which guarantees the protection of medical units, establishments and personnel, as well as articles 27, 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which calls for the protection of civilians.

For full text see http://www.palestinercs.org/IHL_Refrence_Text.htm

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