The PRCS condemns the Israeli attack against its Emergency Medical Teams in Issaweya

(Jerusalem- 15/2/2012): The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) condemns the Israeli Occupation forces’ (IOF) attacks against its medical teams, preventing them from providing their humanitarian duty.
 

This afternoon, one ambulance was hit with rubber bullets at Ofer checkpoint, while the teams were providing the humanitarian service to Palestinians during the confrontations that took place in solidarity with the Palestinian detainee Khader Adnan.
 

In another incident, an ambulance was attacked last night by the IOF in Issaweya – Jerusalem, while the emergency medical technicians were treating an injured journalist. The front windshield was completely shattered.
 

PRCS affirms that such practices constitute a crying violation of basic IHL rules, mainly the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians in times of war which legally applies to the OPT as well as the 1st Additional Protocol which guarantee the respect and protection of the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick civilians and for providing them with first aid, as well as the respect of the life and dignity of civilians under military occupation.
 

Such practices also violate article 20 of the 4th Geneva Convention which guarantees the respect and protection of the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick civilians and article 63 which affirms that National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall be able to pursue their activities subject to temporary and exceptional measures imposed for urgent reasons of security by the Occupying Power.