Introduction *

International Humanitarian Law *

Violation of the Right to Life and Personal Security of Palestinian Medical Personnel *

Shooting at Ambulances *

Attacks on Medical Facilities by Israeli Occupation Forces *

Disastrous Impact of the Internal Siege on Medical Care *

Conclusion *

Medical Personnel Killed by Israeli Occupation Forces *

Medical Personnel Injured by Israeli Occupation Forces *

The new Palestinian Intifada (Al-Aqsa Intifada) has witnesses a new form of violence committed by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people. For the first time since their occupation of the Palestinian Territories in 1967, Israeli occupation forces have used heavy weaponry against the Palestinian people. They have escalated the excessive use of force, including willful killing and shelling from tanks, combat helicopters, and gunboats. The Israeli forces have used heavy and medium machine guns against Palestinian demonstrators, and resorted to snipers and guns equipped with silencers. They have also intensively shelled Palestinian residential areas and civilian and security facilities.

In the bloody clashes that erupted 29 September 2000, Palestinian medical personnel, transports and facilities were targeted by Israeli occupation forces, as well as settlers who have made their home on occupied territory. The use of force by Israeli occupation forces was indiscriminate and Palestinian medical personnel, who have been always clearly marked, have been targeted by the Israeli forces and settlers.

Aggressive belligerent actions by Israeli occupation forces and settlers against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) violate international humanitarian law. These actions are considered grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 (hereafter the Fourth Geneva Convention or the Convention). Deliberately targeting Palestinian medical personnel and vehicles by the Israeli forces and settlers is a form of willful killing, which is a grave breach of the Convention, under Articles 146 and 147.

Article 14 of the Convention provides:

In time of peace, the High Contracting Parties, and after the outbreak of hostilities, the Parties thereto, may establish in their own territory, and if the need arises, in occupied areas, hospital and safety zones and localities so organized as to protect from the effects of war, wounded, sick and aged persons, children under fifteen, expectant mothers and mothers of children under 7…

Article 18 of the Convention provides:

Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack, but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties of the conflict…

Article 20 of the Convention provides:

Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals, including the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, the infirm and maternity cases, shall be respected and protected…

Article 23 of the Convention provides:

Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all consignments of medical and hospital stores and objects necessary for religious worship intended only for civilians of another High Contracting Party even if the latter is its adversary…

The Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, prescribes mechanisms for protecting medical personnel and the facilitation of the evacuation of the wounded and sick in areas of armed conflicts.

This report highlights violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Israeli occupation forces and settlers against Palestinian medical personnel. In particular, this report emphasizes the rights of medical personnel to life, security, safety, free movement in medical vehicles to save lives of the wounded, and protection, ensured by all international instruments both in time of peace and in time of belligerent occupation. This report covers the period 29 September 2000 (the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada) to 11 April 2001.

The Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, defines medical personnel. Article 8 - Section 1 - Part II provides:

In the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Israeli occupation forces have attacked Palestinian medical personnel and transports, thus violating the rights of medical personnel to protection, security and safety while carrying out their humanitarian mission of saving the lives of Palestinian civilians. They have used force excessively against every person present in areas of clashes. Many medical and first-aid personnel have been targeted by Israeli forces. Seven Palestinian medical personnel have been killed and dozens have been wounded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces have also used artillery shells, heavy and medium machine guns, live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and stun grenades against ambulances, hospitals and medical centers of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Military Medical Service, and other medical NGOs.

The rights to life, freedom and personal security are ensured by the international humanitarian law.

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides:

Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides:

1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.

Many physicians, nurses and ambulance officers were exposed to real danger while on duty. All the people in the areas of clashes, including medical personnel and journalists, were targeted by Israeli occupation forces and settlers. Palestinian medical personnel did not hesitate to offer medical help to the wounded despite the danger they faced. Israeli gunfire did not exclude Palestinian medical personnel and their vehicles despite the distinctive emblems they have. Some physicians, medics and nurses were victims of the Israeli gunfire. On 30 September 2000, Bassam El-Belbeissi, an ambulance driver, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza City. On 29 September 2000, two members of the medical service of the Palestinian Marine Forces were killed in Nablus. On 15 November 2000 and 10 April 2001, two physicians were killed by Israeli rockets. On 20 and 23 December 2000, two members of the Palestinian Civil Defense were killed near Gaza.

The repetitive nature of attacks on Palestinian medical personnel by the Israeli forces proves that they are actually targeted by these forces. Following are the cases that were documented by PCHR’s field officers and by local and international human rights organizations in the period under study:

1. Killing

• The Killing of Bassam Fayez El-Belbeissi, an Ambulance Driver

On 30 Sepetember 2000, Bassam Fayez El-Belbeissi, 45, from Gaza, an ambulance driver of the Red Crescent Society in Deir El-Balah, went to Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City to evacuate Palestinians civilians wounded by Israeli occupation forces at the junction. He was wearing a white suit that had the emblem of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. He evacuated some of the wounded to a field hospital around 300m away from the junction. When Israeli occupation forces opened fire on the child Mohammed El-Durrah and his father, an incident that was shown on television stations around the world, El-Belbeissi went in the ambulance to the junction to offer help to the two. According to eyewitnesses, El-Belbeissi received a lethal live bullet in the chest fired by Israeli occupation forces while he was on duty. A medic who was in the area drove the ambulance and evacuated El-Belbeissi to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza, where he was pronounced dead.

• The Killing of Two Medics of the Palestinian Marine Forces

On 30 September 2000, around 4,000 Palestinian civilians demonstrated in Nablus, protesting against the provocative visit by Ariel Sharon to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Holy Sanctuary). The demonstrators moved towards Joseph’s Tomb at the southern entrance of the city, despite attempts by around 300 Palestinian policemen to prevent their access to that area. Violent clashes erupted between the demonstrators and more than 100 Israeli soldiers who opened fire on the demonstrators indiscriminately. Five Palestinians, including two medics of the Palestinian Marine Forces, were killed:

1. Amjad ‘Abdullah Dharaghma, 22, from Tubas, a medic of the Palestinian Marine Forces, killed by a live bullet in the chest;

2. Mohammed Tawfiq El-Qalaq, 23, from Tulkarm, a medic of the Palestinian Marine Forces, killed by a live bullet in the chest;

3. Khaled El-Bathayan, 16, from Nablus, killed by a live bullet in the head;

4. Zakaria ‘Ersan El-Kilani, 22, from Sireis village near Nablus, killed by a live bullet in the chest; and

5. Mahmoud Hani ‘Anbara, 24, resident of Jordan, killed by a live bullet in the head.

Dozens of demonstrators were also wounded. On the following day, 18-year-old Jihad Mahmoud El-‘Aaloul, from Nablus, was pronounced dead from a wound in the head by a live bullet in these clashes.

• The Killing of a German Physician

On 15 November 2000, Israeli occupation forces shelled residential neighborhoods in A’ida refugee camp near Bethlehem and in Beit Jala. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians were wounded, and a German physician, Harry Fischer, 55, was hit with an artillery shell that killed him, while he was offering help to one of the wounded.

• The Killing of Two Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense

At approximately 09:00 on 20 December 2000, Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a truck of the Palestinian Civil Defense, which is responsible for firefighting and related duties, and has a distinctive emblem, traveling from Rafah towards Gaza City. Ref’at Faisal Abu Marzouq, 25, from Rafah, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Nidal Hussein Abu ‘Oun, 30, also from Rafah, was critically wounded by a live bullet in the head. Abu ‘Oun was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City, where he succumbed to his wound on 23 December 2000. In a testimony under oath to PCHR, an eyewitness said that a red transportation truck that had the distinctive emblem of the Palestinian Civil Defense was traveling across Salah El-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, on its way from Rafah to Gaza City. Eight civil-uniformed members of the Civil Defense were in the back of the truck. When the truck arrived at Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, an Israeli convoy was there, consisting of a military jeep followed by an armored truck usually used to transport settlers. Then, another Israeli military jeep arrived at the junction coming from the east. When the Palestinian truck crossed the junction, one of the two Israeli military jeeps moved forward and stopped in the middle of the junction. Suddenly, an Israeli soldier emerged from a hatch at the top of the jeep, pointing his gun at the truck. He fired three live bullets from a distance of 30m. Then, he went back into the jeep and the convoy resumed its movement towards “Netzarim” settlement, west of the junction. The Civil Defense truck continued on its way, escaping from fire, and stopped approximately 500m away from the junction. It was discovered then that two of its passengers had been hit; one instantly died and the other was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City.

According to eyewitness, the Israeli forces fired at the truck without any apparent reason. It was one of a series of incidents of shooting by the Israeli forces at Palestinian civilians and transportation on the roads and junctions under the control of these forces.

• A Surface-to-Surface Missile Kills a Physician in the Gaza Strip

On 10 April 2001, two surface-to-surface missiles launched from inside Israeli territories east of the Gaza Strip were seen hitting a clinic in a site of the Palestinian Marine Police at the seashore of Beit Lahia. Wa’el Khweiter, 28, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, a physician of the Palestinian Military Medical Service, was killed after he got a wound in the abdomen and the chest. Additionally, Colonel Ghassan ‘Anabtawi, 50, from Al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza City, of the Palestinian Military Medical Service, was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body, and his child ‘Obeida, 10, suffered from a nervous shock, as she had accompanied her father to the targeted site. PCHR’s field officer in the northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that the building of the clinic in the site, an ambulance of the Palestinian Military Medical Service and a civilian car were destroyed.

2. Dozens of Wounded Palestinian Medical Personnel

Dozens of Palestinian medical personnel have been wounded by Israeli occupation forces. Although Palestinian medical personnel have followed all international instructions to make themselves distinct in the areas of clashes and they have never posed any threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers, those soldiers have targeted them, wounding some. Israeli forces have violated international law and international humanitarian law relevant to the protection of medical personnel. Israeli measures in this regard have also negatively affected people in need for medical care. PCHR has documented a number of cases in which Israeli forces targeted Palestinian medical personnel.

• On 2 October 2000, Israeli forces, positioned in a military location at Al-Shuahda’ junction, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Salem Salem Ahmed, 22, an ambulance officer from Khan Yunis, was wounded by shrapnel from live bullets in the right hand. In his testimony to PCHR, Ahmed said that he and his colleagues went to evacuate a young man who was wounded in clashes with the Israeli forces there. The young man was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot and had taken shelter in a cabin of the Palestinian traffic police. When they carried the young man away, the Israeli forces fired at them. The young man was again wounded by shrapnel in the head. They carried him into the ambulance. Ahmed discovered that he was wounded by shrapnel in the right hand.

• On 16 October 2000, Nassim Yousef Hassan, 23, from Khan Yunis, an ambulance officer of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, was wounded in the back by a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by Israeli soldiers in Khan Yunis. In his testimony to PCHR, Hassan said that on that day, clashes had erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces near “Al-Nouria” military site, west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. The Israeli forces fired at Palestinian civilians. Hassan saw a young man lying on the ground asking for help. He hurried towards him and carried him with the assistance of another young man. When they moved, they heard sounds of shooting and Hassan felt pain in the back. He was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet.

On 3 November 2000, Hassan was wounded in the right thigh by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli occupation forces while he was evacuating the wounded in clashes that erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli forces near Al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis.

• On 21 October 2000, Hussein Kamal Abu Rezeq, 22, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, an ambulance officer of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, was wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right hand and thigh. Abu Rezeq was evacuating a wounded young man when he was fired at by the Israeli forces.

• On 25 November 2000, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis. The Israeli forces fired artillery shells at civilians. An artillery shell hit the front of an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The ambulance officer, Sami Ibrahim Abu Namous, 29, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, and the driver, ‘Awni Hamdan El-Agha, were wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

• On 31 December 2000, Ibrahim Shabat, an ambulance driver of Al-‘Awda Hospital in Jabalya refugee camp, was wounded in the left leg by an explosive bullet fired by Israeli occupation forces. Shabat and his colleagues were evacuating those wounded in clashes that had erupted between dozens of Palestinian laborers and Israeli occupation forces in Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip.

• On 13 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian houses in the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell hit an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, while its medical personnel were evacuating the wounded to hospital. The shell penetrated the side window of the ambulance, wounding its driver, Fayez Mohammed Nabhan, 52, with shrapnel in the head. The ambulance was approximately 300m away from the source of fire. Approximately 15 minutes later, an ambulance driver, Ibrahim Suleimna Abu Settah, 48, was wounded by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the right knee, while he was trying to move a wounded civilian to an ambulance of the Ministry of Health.

• On 23 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. Six Palestinian civilians were wounded by live bullets and 49 were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets. Among the wounded was Mark Singer, an Agence France Presse photographer, who was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder. Additionally, three medical personnel of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and two volunteers of the Palestinian Union of Health Work Committees were wounded by Israeli forces. They were:

1. Tariq ‘Eissa ‘Aabed, 24, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and the achest;

2. Ahlam Nabil Nasser, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side;

3. Nizar Far’oun, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder;

4. Nader Fawzi ‘Aadel, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and

5. Hussam Hammouda, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand.

• On 2 March 2001, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. The Israeli forces fired at demonstrating civilians, wounding some. In addition, for medical personnel of the Union of Health Work Committees in Ramallah were wounded while they were on duty:

1. Nasser Jamjoum, 32, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the mouth;

2. ‘Arafat Zayed, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;

3. Riham Abu Jom’a, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder; and

4. Rami Abu Dayeh, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.

• On 12 March 2001, Israeli occupation forces fired at peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to closing Ramallah-Bir Zeit road. A Palestinian medic, Ahmed ‘Oudeh ‘Arar, of the Union of Health Work Committees, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left eye, while he was on duty. He was transferred to an Austrian hospital fearing that he might lose his sight in the left eye.

• On 23 March 2001, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. Israeli forces opened fire and used tear gas against Palestinian civilians. As a result, three medical personnel of the Palestinian Union of Health Work Committees were wounded while they were trying to offer medical help. They were:

1. Baschar Hashem, 22, from Ramallah, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;

2. ‘Arafat Zayed, 24, from Ramallah, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand; and

3. ‘Eissa Rawhi, 26, who fainted and suffered from breath difficulties due to tear gas inhalation.

• On 25 October 2001, a group of peaceful protesters moved towards a military roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces at Beit Fourik junction, to the east of Nablus. Israeli occupation soldiers indiscriminately opened fire and used tear gas against Palestinian civilians participating in the march. Twenty-two Palestinian civilians were wounded, including four medical personnel of the Palestinian Union of Health Work Committees, who were:

1. Ghassan Hamdan, 40, a physician from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right arm;

2. ‘Ammar El-‘Assi, 26, from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-caoted metal bullet in the left foot;

3. Mohammed Kalbouna, 24, from Nablus, wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder and the left leg; and

4. Suhad Hisham Shureim, 32, from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh.

• On 10 April 2001, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with ten tanks and three bulldozers, moved into the western area of Khan Yunis refugee camp. These forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses, and their bulldozers demolished and destroyed Palestinian houses on a large scale. The indiscriminate shelling of the area also resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians and the wounding of 27 people, four of whom were of medical personnel. They were:

1. Na’im Khaled Rashid Abu ‘Amer, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;

2. ‘Awad ‘Obeid Abu Hadayed, 27, suffered from bruises in the right hand;

3. Mohammed Khalil El-Qadhi, 22, suffered from bruises in the right ankle; and

4. Haitham Abu Mo’eileq, m29, suffered from bruises.

• On 11 April 2001, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Hagai” and “Avraham Avino” settlements and on Johar Mount, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Abu Sneineh and Wadi Al-Haria neighborhoods in Hebron. Five Palestinian civilians were wounded, including three medical personnel of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, who were:

1. Sa’id El-Khattib, a paramedic, wounded with shrapnel in both feet;

2. Ramzi El-Muhtasseb, a paramedic, wounded with shrapnel in both hands; and

3. Lu’ai El-Sharif, a paramedic, wounded with shrapnel in both hands;

2. Beating and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment

Israeli occupation forces have attacked, and have encouraged attacks by settlers on Palestinian medical personnel despite the protection these forces must provide for medical personnel in accordance with international humanitarian law. No investigation has been initiated by Israeli occupation forces in any single case that involved beating and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinian medical personnel by these forces and settlers.

• On 22 January 2001, an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society went to the Israeli hospital “Sha’areih Tseideq” in West Jerusalem, to bring back Jihad Yaghmour, 65, from Ramallah, a cancer patient, his wife and his brother-in-law. The ambulance took the three persons and traveled towards Ramallah. When they arrived at an Israeli military roadblock at the entrance to Al-Barid neighborhood in the north of Jerusalem, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers who ordered all the passengers in the ambulance to show their identity cards. After they had checked the identity cards, an Israeli soldier came back and asked for Lu’ai Raddad, an ambulance officer. The soldier was carrying chains. Then, Haroun El-Rimawi, another ambulance officer intervened and warned the soldier that what he was intending to do contradicted the law. However, the soldier did not pay attentions to calls by El-Rimawi, and arrested Raddad. Soon, other soldiers started beating Raddad. Then, an Israeli soldier handcuffed him. The Israeli soldiers searched the ambulance, while insulting its occupants and Palestine. They also stole a mobile phone owned by El-Rimawi. Around an hour later, Raddad was released and the Israeli soldiers ordered the ambulance to leave the area.

• On 25 January 2001, Israeli occupation forces beat some medical personnel of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, while they were on duty in clearly marked medical uniform and ambulances. PCHR learned that Al-Bireh medical aid center was informed at approximately 22:30, some Palestinians were wounded in the village of Surda, north of Ramallah, when Israeli occupation forces raided the village. Soon, an ambulance, driven by Talal Abu ‘Eida, with a medic, Naji El-Barghouthi, went to the village. Israeli occupation forces stopped the ambulance on a road west of the village and ordered the medical personnel to get out of it, forcing them to kneel on the ground for an hour and a half, during which Israeli soldiers strictly checked the ambulance and disconnected its communication equipment. A press release issued by the Palestine Red Crescent Society stated that Israeli occupation soldiers beat the driver and the medic, and due to the very cold weather and being beaten by soldiers, the driver suffered from a cramp in his legs and hands and from severe pains in the chest. Soldiers prevented his evacuation to hospital. The press release added that another ambulance went to the area after communication with the driver Abu E’ideh was cut. Personnel of the second ambulance received the same treatment by Israeli occupation soldiers. At approximately 00:45 on the following day, Israeli occupation soldiers allowed two of the medical personnel to leave the area and to transfer the driver Abu ‘Eideh to hospital. The fourth man was released at approximately 01:30.

• On 19 March 2001, Israeli occupation forces stopped an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Al-Bireh. Two medical personnel, Lu’ai Raddad and Ahmed Ramadan went to evacuate the wounded in a car accident near Al-Ram roadblock. When they were back from this mission, an Israeli policeman and some soldiers stopped them at the roadblock. They ordered them to get out of the ambulance and show their identity cards. They insulted them. Then, the policeman checked the ambulance. He also prevented the medical personnel from calling their emergency center. When the director of Al-Bireh ambulance center came to the area to check the reason of detaining the two medical personnel, Israeli soldiers beat him and Ramadan. Around an hour and a half later, representatives of the ICRC and some journalists arrived at the area and asked about the reason for the detention of the two medical personnel. The Israeli forces informed the ICRC representatives that what happened was part of their routine measures. Later, the policeman released the medical personnel, threatening to punish them in case he or a Palestinian ambulance passed by the roadblock.

Since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada, Israeli occupation forces have attacked Palestinian medical units and transports. These attacks have targeted permanent and temporary medical units in violation of the international humanitarian law. The Israeli forces have attacked field hospitals that have come to existence upon the outbreak of the Intifada. These hospitals have been clearly marked with the ICRC flags. Nevertheless, the Israeli forces have targeted these hospitals in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and annexed Protocol I.

• On 30 September 2000, Israeli occupation forces fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society near Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City. Windows of the vehicle were broken and a tire was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

• On 30 September 2000, Israeli occupation forces fired a tear gas canister at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society near Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City. The front seat of the vehicle was burnt.

• On 30 September 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The front window and a mirror of the vehicle were broken.

• On 30 September 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, fired tear gas canister at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The driver and a nurse suffered from tear gas inhalation and were forced to get out of the vehicle.

• On 1 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada; junction, south of Gaza City, fired a shell at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was approximately 200m away from the junction. The shell exploded near the ambulance and damaged its door, but no casualties were reported.

• On 2 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The vehicle was hit by 7 live bullets.

• On 2 October 2000, Ghassan Shu’aib, 55, from Qalqilya, an ambulance driver, was wounded in the left leg by a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by Israeli occupation forces. Shu’aib was evacuating the wounded in clashes that erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces at the southern entrance of Qalqilya.

• On 16 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Rafah Border Crossing, intensively fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which arrived at the area to evacuate people who were wounded by these forces. The ambulance was forced to leave the area. Later, the Israeli forces allowed the access of another ambulance to evacuate the wounded.

• On 23 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces fired an artillery shell at an ambulance of the Palestinian Military Medical Service in Beit Jala. The shell fell 2m away from the ambulance, breaking its windows and damaging its medical equipment and tires.

• On 23 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Salah El-Din Gate at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and a fire engine of the Palestinian Civil Defense, which arrived at Qeshta neighborhood to offer help to civilians in a house that had been shelled by these forces. The two vehicles were forced to move back because of the intensive shooting. Only half an hour later they were able to reach the house.

• On 24 October 2000, an Israeli tank at Morag junction, north of Rafah, obstructed the passage of an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was evacuating two wounded, one of whom was in critical condition. The ambulance was forced to stop to let a convoy of settlers, illegally residing in the OPT, pass.

• On 27 October 2000, Israeli occupation forces fired at an ambulance of the Palestinian Civil Defense in Al-Balou’ area in Ramallah. The vehicle was hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet that broke the right window. At the same time, an ambulance of the Palestinian Military Medical Service was hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet, which broke the right window.

• On 12 November 2000, Israeli occupation forced fired four artillery shells at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, while it was evacuating a wounded. The shells fell near the ambulance, causing severe damage to its rear section.

• On 25 November 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis, fired a number of artillery shells at Khan Yunis refugee camp. A shell hit an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which was approximately 150m away. The driver and a nurse were wounded and the ambulance was severely damaged. Another ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society was hit by shrapnel.

• On 28 November 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Salah El-Din Gate at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. A live bullet hit the left door of the ambulance, but no casualties were reported.

• On 4 January 2001, Israeli soldiers in a tank positioned at Al-Matahen junction, north of Khan Yunis, fired at an ambulance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The ambulance was evacuating a sick child from Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. The ambulance was forced to travel back to Khan Yunis, although the evacuation had been already coordinated with the Israeli forces.

• On 9 January 2001, Israeli occupation forces fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Al-Mughraqa area, south of Gaza City. Live bullets penetrated the tires, but no casualties were reported. The ambulance came to the area to evacuate a woman who had just been beaten by the Israeli forces.

• On 25 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the southern entrance of Tulkarm, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society when medical personnel tried to evacuate the wounded in clashes that had erupted between Palestinian civilians and these forces. Two live bullets hit the ambulance, but no casualties were reported.

• On 5 April 2001, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, fired at an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was near some Palestinian children who were throwing stones towards these forces. The ambulance was approximately 150m away from the junction. An explosive live bullet hit the back window, but no casualties were reported.

Palestinian medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics, have been attacked by Israeli occupation forces. These facilities have not been immune to shelling that targeted Palestinian residential areas. Settlers have also participated in these attacks.

• On 29 October 2000, a number of settlers fired at Al-Muttala’ Hospital in Jerusalem, wounding a guard, Mousa Mahmoud Harazallah, 36, with a live bullet in the shoulder. According to Harazallah, five Israeli settlers came in a GMC car. A settler got out of the car and pointed his gun at Harazallah and one of his colleagues. The settler fired at the two, wounding Harazallah with a live bullet in the shoulder. The hospital had been frequently attacked by the Israeli forces and settlers since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000.

• On 3 October 2000, representatives of the ICRC informed the medical officer of a field clinic of the Palestine Red Crescent Society near Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, that the Israeli forced ordered the evacuation of the hospital in half an hour, otherwise it would be shelled. Medical personnel of the hospital were forced to evacuate it although it had the flags of the ICRC and the Red Crescent Society top of it. On the two previous days, an Israeli combat helicopter had indiscriminately fired at the same hospital and its medical personnel were forced to evacuate.

• On 20 November 2000, an Israeli combat helicopter shelled a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Khan Yunis. Walls of an UNRWA clinic cracked and some of its windows were broken.

• On 25 November 2000, Israeli occupation forces shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp. Two artillery shells fell on the roof of an UNRWA clinic, destroying its water tank. Another shell fell near the gynecology department of the clinic.

• On 31 December 2000, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Psagot” settlement, east of Al-Bireh, fired heavy caliber bullets at the headquarters of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in the city, although the building had the emblem of the society and was clearly distinctive. Five vehicles and water tanks were damaged.

• On 8 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Psagot” settlement, east of Al-Bireh, shelled Palestinian residential areas in the city. The headquarters of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in the city was hit. Parts of the upper floor of the building burnt. Additionally, a vehicle, three water tanks and a telephone compound were severely damaged.

• On 8 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces shelled an UNRWA clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Two heavy caliber bullets hit a wall of the physiotherapy department. Hundreds of people, who were in the clinic, were extremely terrified. The clinic had the UN flag and was clearly distinctive as a clinic.

• On 12 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis. Nasser Hospital was hit by live bullets.

• On 15 February 2001, Israeli occupation forces shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp. The radiology department of an UNRWA clinic was severely damaged.

• On 28 March 2001, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a number of Palestinian security and civilian sites in Gaza, Khan Yunis and Jabalya. Two Medical Centers of the Palestinian Ministry of Health and an UNRWA clinic were severely damaged.

1. Violation of the Right of Medical Units and Transports to Free Movement

International human rights law provides free movement for persons. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that “everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state….” Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that “everyone… shall have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence….” Medical personnel should have the right to freedom of movement to ensure the access patients and wounded to appropriate medical care. Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 provides:

Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all consignments of medical and hospital stores and objects necessary for religious worship intended only for civilians of another High Contracting Party, even if the latter is its adversary. It shall likewise permit the free passage of all consignments of essential foodstuffs, clothing and tonics intended for children under fifteen, expectant mothers and maternity cases…

During clashes, Israeli occupation forces have violated the right of Palestinian medical personnel to freedom of movement. They have obstructed the passage of many ambulances that have evacuated the wounded.

Palestinian patients lack appropriate medical care due to the lack of sufficient medical facilities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They used to go hospitals in Jerusalem, but under the current total siege imposed on the OPT, they have been denied access to those hospitals as Jerusalem has been isolated from the rest of the West Bank.

• On 30 September 2000, an Israeli military jeep prevented an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society from offering medical care to a Palestinian civilian and his children in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, after they had been beaten by Israeli occupation soldiers. The wounded were evacuated to hospital only after the jeep had left the area.

• On 30 September 2000, Israeli occupation forces prevented an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society from evacuating a young man who was wounded in Hebron. The ambulance had waited for more than half an hour. Then, Israeli soldiers ordered the ambulance to leave the area and arrested the wounded young man.

• On 11 October 2000, a number of Israeli settlers obstructed the passage of an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society on Nablus-Bethlehem road. The ambulance was evacuating a heart patient to hospital. It had been forced to wait for more than an hour before it was allowed to proceed its way.

• On 11 October 2000, Nazhir Nayef Hamdan, from Jama’in village near Nablus fell from top of a tractor and was seriously injured. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Hawara junction, denied the passage of an ambulance that was taking him to hospital. The ambulance was forced to move back and resort to a long bypass roaad. It took the ambulance 3 hours to reach hospital, although the trip normally takes only 20 minutes. Hamdan died at hosiptal.

• On 7 December 2000, at 20:30, an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Jericho went to Al-‘Ouja village near Jericho upon information that there were people who were wounded in the village. The ambulance evacuated Hussein Khalil ‘Atteyat, 22, who was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. On its way towards Jericho Hospital, an Israeli military vehicle ordered the driver to stop the ambulance. The driver stopped on the side of the road. Israeli soldiers got out of the military vehicle and asked the medical personnel whether they were evacuating wounded people. The driver told them that there was a wounded young man. Israeli soldiers ordered the driver not to move. Approximately half an hour later, an Israeli soldier told the driver that the young man was wanted by Israeli security forces and they would arrest him. He also informed the driver that an Israeli ambulance was coming to take him. Israeli soldier ordered the driver to drive the ambulance behind them. They moved towards an Israeli military location near Al-‘Ouja village. Then, an Israeli military ambulance came and a physician checked the young man. Again, the Israeli soldiers ordered the ambulance driver to move to another destination to move the young man to an Israeli civilian ambulance. When they arrived in “Ne’ma” settlement, south of the village, a number of Israeli officers interrogated the young man inside the ambulance for 40 minutes and photographed him. Then, they took him into an Israeli military ambulance to an unknown destination and released the Palestinian medical personnel at 22:30.

• On 21 December 2000, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a military roadblock near Qalandya Airport, stopped an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was evacuating a Palestinian who was seriously wounded to Ramallah Hospital. They ordered the driver to take the opposite direction of the road towards hospital. When the ambulance arrived at an Israeli military roadblock, north of Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers ordered the medical personnel to get out of it. They took their identity cards and communication sets. Then, an Israeli soldier asked a military physician to offer medical aid for the wounded Palestinian. Soon, an Israeli military ambulance arrived at the area and took the wounded Palestinian. Israeli policemen interrogated the Palestinian medical personnel who were released upon intervention by representatives of the ICRC.

• On 2 January 2001, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City, denied the passage of an ambulance that evacuated a pregnant woman from a clinic in Deir El-Balah to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip reported that Miriam ‘Aamer El-Akhras, 30, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was in serious condition and badly in need for a caesarian operation that cannot be performed in clinics of the middle area due to the lack of necessary equipment. The Israeli forces also denied the passage of an ambulance that was evacuating Rajab El-Sa’afin, 70, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, and Wasfia El-Kurd, 70, from Deir El-Balah, to Shifa’ Hospital. The Israeli forces forced the ambulance to travel back to the middle area.

• On 9 January 2001, Israeli occupation forces denied the entry of an ambulance into Seilat Al-Zhaher village near Jenin, to offer medical care to ‘Abdel-Hamid ‘Abdel-Rahim Khanfar, who was wounded by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers and settlers who raided the village. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces denied the entry of an ambulance into the village to evacuate Khanfar to Jenin Hospital. Villagers were able to evacuate him in a civilian car to hospital through a rough road. The way to hospital took an hour and Khanfar died before reaching hospital.

• On 12 February 2001, at approximately 08:30, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on passing Palestinian civilian cars near Rafat junction, connected with a bypass road to the southwest of Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses, a Ford Transit car suddenly deviated from its path and collided with a sand barricade near an Israeli military location. Soon, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on the car from a distance of 3m, killing its driver A’attef Ahmed El-Nabulsi, 35, with live bullets in the neck and the chest. The Israeli forces prevented an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society from transferring the body of El-Nabulsi to Ramallah. They even took the body to a military location, known as “Ofar,” near Betounia. Later, the Israeli forces released the ambulance, but kept the body until 18:00.

• On 23 February 2001, Talal Hassan Abu ‘Arida, 17 years old, from Rafah, was critically wounded with a heavy medium bullet in the head, when Israeli occupation forces fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian civilians and houses in Rafah. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.

Abu ‘Arida was first evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he received first aid. Then, he was transferred by ambulance, accompanied by a physician, to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, but Israeli occupation forces positioned at two military roadblocks, to the south of Gaza City, obstructed the passage of the ambulance for more than five hours without any apparent reason, although Abu A’rida was in critical condition.

• On 23 February 2001, two Palestinian children were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets when Israeli occupation forces fired at them near Al-Mughraqa area in the south of Gaza City:

1. Tamer El-Dayem, 12 years old, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

2. Ismail Hamdan, 16 years old, also from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.

PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that Israeli forces, who had closed Salah El-Din Street at Al-Shuhada’ junction, prevented the evacuation of the two wounded children by an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, so they were evacuated to a clinic in Deir El-Balah instead.

• On 23 March 2001, Israeli occupation forces at Al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis, denied the entry of 11 medical personnel into Al-Mawasi area, which had been under a strict siege since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada. Dr. Muna El-Farra, Deputy Director of Union of Health Work Committees in Gaza, had organized a medical work day in Al-Mawasi area, in coordination with the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Human Land Society. On 9 March, Dr. El-Farra asked the Israeli forces, through Khan Yunis Governorate, to allow the entry of 26 medical personnel into the area. The Israeli forces denied the entry of 11 of those medical personnel.

1. Denial of the Entry of Medical Aid and Medicine into the OPT

Under the current total siege, Israeli occupation forces have denied the entry of medical supplies and ambulances donated by Arab and friend countries. The Palestinian National Authority was forced to put those medical supplies into stores in the Egyptian city of Al-‘Arish.

• The Israeli forces denied the entry of nine trucks loaded with medicines and medical equipment and 30 ambulances donated by Saudi Arabia, through Rafah Border Crossing at the Egyptian Border. The trucks were unloaded into stores in Al-‘Arish in Egypt, rented by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Large amounts of medicines rotted due to repeated transfer and bad storage.

• The Israeli forces denied the entry of a cargo of medical aids donated by Greek NGOs, through Rafah Border Crossing at the Egyptian border.

• According to the Palestinian Minister of Health Dr, Riadh El-Za’noun, the Israeli forces denied the passage of medicines and medical equipment from stores of his ministry in Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip.

• According to the Director General of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the closure of Gaza International Airport had obstructed the travel of wounded and patients to Arab and foreign countries to receive medical care.

1. Impact of the Internal Siege on the Evacuation of Patients to Hospital

PCHR has documented many incidents in which Israeli occupation forces at military roadblock denied the access of Palestinian patients to hospitals. As a result, some patients died and some pregnant women miscarried. Following are some of these cases:

• On 17 October 2000, Houria Bani ‘Oudeh, 37, from the Jordan Valley, miscarried after the Israeli forces had denied her access to Jericho Hospital. Bani ‘Oudeh was pregnant in the sixth month and suffered from hemorrhage and pains in the abdomen. Israeli soldiers at a military roadblock at the northern entrance to Jericho denied her access to hospital.

• On 17 October 2000, Na’im ‘Atallah Ahmed, 37, from Al-Zawia village in Salfit, died when the Israeli forces denied his access to hospital through a military roadblock. Ahmed suffered from a kidney disease.

• On 29 October 2000, Riadh Yousef ‘Awad, 26, from Beit Jala, died after Israeli forces delayed the passage of an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which evacuated him, through Al-Krama Crossing at the Jordanian border for more than 4 hours.

• On 23 January 2001, ‘Eisha Naji Mohammed Nassar, 28, from Al-Jania villgae in Ramallah, mother of five children, died after the Israeli forces denied her access to hospital. Nassar had undergone a Cesarean operation on 27 December 2000, and her health condition deteriorated, so she had to be evacuated to hospital.

• On 27 January 2001, Hasna Suleiman Dharaghma, 66, from Al-Lubban village in Nablus, died after Israeli soldiers at a military roadblock south of Nablus denied her passage to hospital. She had suffered from difficulties in breathing and pains in the chest.

• On 30 January 2001, Falah Saleh ‘Ayyash, 67, from Rafat village in Salfit, died when Israeli occupation forces obstructed his transfer to hospital. The deceased suffered from a heart attack. His family intended to transfer him by a private car to Rafidia hospital in Nablus, but Israeli occupation forces obstructed his evacuation to hospital.

• On 5 February 2001, Khadra Rajab Mustafa Eshteiwi, 65, from Kufro Qaddoum village in Qalqilya, died when Israeli occupation forces at a military roadblock denied her access to hospital.

• ‘Abdel-Rahman Mahmoud Joma’a, 76, from the village of Beit Lied in Tulkarm, died when the Israeli occupation forces obstructed his transfer to hospital. The deceased had suffered from severe pains in the chest.

• On 28 February 2001, Nada ‘Abdel-Jabbar, 45, from Beit Fourik village near Nablus, mother of 8 children, died when the Israeli forces obstructed her access to hospital. She had suffered from hemorrhage during carrying out her house duties and had to be evacuated to hospital.

• On 13 March 2001, Na’im ‘Abed Bani Jame’, 39, from ‘Aqraba village near Nablus, died when Israeli soldiers at a military roadblock obstructed his access to hospital. Jame’ had difficulties in breathing and pains in the chest.

• On 14 March 2001, Amira Nasser Abu Seif, 48, from Taqqou’ village near Jenin, mother of 5 children, died when Israeli occupation soldiers at a military roadblock obstructed her access to hospital. Abu Seif suffered from diabetes and she had pains in the chest.

• On 20 March 2001, ‘Abdel-Fattah Jouhar Lutfi El-Sibakhi, 4, from Khan Yunis, died when the Israeli forces obstructed his travel with his father to Egypt to receive medical care. El-Sibakhi was suffering from an inflation of the heart muscle and he was badly in need for medical attention abroad.

Israeli occupation forces have continued to attack Palestinian medical personnel and ambulances. They have not initiated any investigations into any cases that involved attacks by Israeli soldiers and settlers against Palestinian medical personnel and facilities. A number of medical personnel have been killed and others have been wounded, while a number of medical centers have been shelled.

PCHR condemns the silence of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 in the face of gross violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to put an end to such violations. PCHR particularly calls for:

1. Taking immediate steps by the international community, through the UN Security Council, to put an end to grave violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians, according to the conclusions and recommendations of the UN Human Rights Inquiry Commission, which was formed in accordance UN Security Council Resolution 1322.

2. Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to adopt concrete and practical measures to ensure Israel’s respects for the Convention in the OPT.

3. Providing immediate international protection for the Palestinian people in the OPT.

4. Activating Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement by the EU, which provides that Israel must respect the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law.

5. Enhancing the presence of the ICRC, through expand its activities and intensify its field observations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

6. Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire OPT.

7. Pressuring the international community by World Health Organization in order to put an end to Israeli violations against Palestinian medical personnel and facilities.