PRCS Attends to 900 Persons Wounded During The March of Return

(Gaza - 7/4/2018): PRCS’ Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) attended to about 880 Palestinians wounded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as occupation forces cracked down on protesters taking part in the March of Return on Friday April 6, 2018.

PRCS’ teams attended to 704 casualties in the Gaza Strip alone, including 326 Palestinians shot with live ammunition, 298 tear gas suffocation cases, 4 rubber-bullet injuries, 41 tear gas canister wounds and 35 other casualties caused by shells, burns, falls and shrapnel. 

In the West Bank, 201 casualties were reported including 180 tear gas suffocation cases, 13 rubber bullet wounds, 3 live ammunition wounds and 5 other casualties due to beating by Israeli soldiers, burns and falls.

PRCS’ teams also evacuated the bodies of 10 martyrs killed in the Gaza Strip and erected 5  advanced medical posts to offer emergency medical services to people with minor to moderate injuries.

In addition, PRCS recorded 12 violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against its EMTs in the line of duty, with 17 PRCS’ medics and volunteers suffering from tear gas suffocation, live ammunition and tear gas canister wounds. These practices constitute a crying violation of International Humanitarian Law provisions which call for the respect and protection of medical missions as well as for facilitating their work.

Moreover, in the Gaza Strip, the Society’s Psychological First Aid Team provided psychological support to 750 wounded Palestinians and their families as well as to medical teams to help them overcome their trauma and grief and regain their balance.

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