Israeli occupation forces raid Arab Care Hospital and stop ambulances from evacuating the wounded
1 April 2002 - LAW
Israeli occupation forces raid Arab Care Hospital and stop ambulances from evacuating the wounded
1 April 2002 - LAW
On Sunday 31 March 2002, approximately 30 Israeli soldiers raided the Arab Care Hospital in Ramallah. Dr. Odwan Al Bargouthi explained to LAW that Israeli soldiers raided the 3-story-building and held 55 people, including 9 injured men, in hospital wards, their hands were tied and they were forced to lie on the floor. Israeli troops also maltreated those held and cut off all communication with the outside world. Israeli troops also besieged Waleed Al Nathir Maternity Hospital in Ramallah and detained patients and staff. The troops wreaked havoc and fired shots around the hospital. According to nurses, the shooting was extensive after which ambulance sirens were heard.
Israeli occupation forces have continued to prevent ambulances from evacuating the wounded and shoot at paramedics and detain them up for extended periods. Dr. Wael Kadan, from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), told LAW that Israeli troops stopped four PRCS ambulances from evacuating wounded Palestinians at the Daraghmi building. “Israeli troops held the paramedics for 15 minutes and searched ambulances. Paramedics heard shooting at the Daraghmi stores building… but they were stopped from evacuating potential wounded people.” added Dr. Kadan. Later Israeli troops allowed an ambulance belonging to UPMRC to evacuate the bodies of two Palestinians.
Israeli actions are blatant violations of Articles 16-20 of the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 and Articles 9-11 of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
In light of the above, LAW:
· Demands the Israeli government to immediately stop its
crimes and collective punishment against Palestinians;
· Calls upon the international community to stop subordinating
their political and economic interests to their moral and legal obligations
and to take effective measures in order to protect the rights and lives
of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East
Jerusalem;
· Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention to comply with their obligations to ensure respect of
the Convention;
· Calls upon the European Union, a vital trading partner
for Israel, to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel as a means
of pressuring Israel into compliance with basic norms of international
law;
· Demands the UN Security Council to establish a war crime
tribunal and bring Israeli war criminals to justice;
· Demands international protection for Palestinians in
the occupied territories;
· Demands immediate humanitarian aid for besieged Palestinian
people;
· Demands international intervention, especially of the
ICRC to ensure that medical supplies reach those in need of them;
· Demands ICRC to exert pressure on the international
community to end Israeli attacks on Palestinian paramedics and ambulances
evacuating the wounded and taking pregnant women to hospitals;
senden