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PRCS volunteer’s crews suffer from the Israeli practices against them in Jerusalem
Israeli soldiers attacked the PRCS EMS volunteers who stationed near Al Aqsa Mosque, while attempting to enter the courtyards of the mosque to evacuate the injured Palestinian during the clashes which erupted on the 27th of ٍSeptember 2009, following the entry of the Israeli settlers to the courtyards of the mosque.
Soldiers hampered the teams of volunteers working at PRCS, and prevented them from entering the Al-Aqsa courtyard. But the insistence of the volunteers to assist and evacuate had lead to a success in transferring 12 injuries, including one serious injury in the eye, which was then transferred to the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. Volunteers were also able to provide first aid to 6 other injuries.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society condemns these practices which violates the international humanitarian law, and the Memorandum of Understanding between PRCS and Magen David Adom, which stresses that the PRCS geographical scope is the oPt including east Jerusalem. Moreover, PRCS stresses on providing assistance to our people, wherever requested, and that the Israeli soldiers must not impede its crew members or assault them.
PRCS believes that what happened in Al- Aqsa Mosque was a clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 which is legally applicable to the occupied Palestinian territories. In particular, these practices violate articles 20 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which guarantees the protection and respect of persons who engage in the search for, removal and transport of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, and article 63 which stresses that ” Subject to temporary and exceptional measures imposed for urgent reasons of security by the Occupied Power, recognized National red cross and red crescent societies shall be able to pursue their activities in accordance with Red Cross principles, as defined by the international Red Cross Conferences…”. In addition to articles 12 and 15 of the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva conventions which guarantees that “ Medical units shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the object of attack and shall have access to any place where their services are essential” and article 16 which stresses that, “Under no circumstances shall any person be punished for carrying out medical activities compatible with medical ethics, regardless of the person benefiting there from.”,
HQ Location: PRCS
