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The ICRC urges respect for medical services
Press Release, 2 April 2002


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2 April 2002
Press Release

The ICRC urges respect for medical services

Tel Aviv 02 April 2002 (ICRC) - The ICRC is deeply concerned at the flagrant lack of respect for medical services during the unprecedented increase in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories over recent weeks. The ICRC condemns any attacks against medical staff and installations, and reiterates its call for respect of medical services by all parties involved.
    In such a time of increasing violence, the unobstructed work of medical services caring for the wounded and sick is of utmost importance. Both the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and Magen David Adom (MDA) have been working courageously and tirelessly in order to fulfil their humanitarian mission - which binds all people and cultures - caring for all the victims of violence without distinction.
    Regrettably, these services have been increasingly targeted over the past weeks. The ICRC is outraged over recent attacks against the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of both the PRCS and the MDA. On 31.03., seven persons, out of which four were MDA staff, were injured in a suicide attack near a medical centre in Efrat settlement close to Bethlehem. Only three weeks ago, three Palestinian EMS staff, two of them from the PRCS, were killed, and several others seriously injured when their ambulances came under fire by Israeli troops in Jenin and Tulkarem.
    The ICRC is alarmed at increasing restrictions being imposed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on both the medical services of the PRCS, and the humanitarian mission of the ICRC, inside the occupied Palestinian territories. Delays of up to eight hours at checkpoints, refusal to allow safe passage and quick access to victims, harassment of several PRCS ambulance staff are seriously hampering the delivery of urgently needed medical and humanitarian assistance.
    The ICRC calls once again on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to adhere to their obligations under IHL and to ensure respect for the medical mission in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Last update : 02/04/2002



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