During this reporting period, the Israeli
Army has continued to violate the First and Fourth Geneva Conventions and
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by denying freedom of movement
to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams
who were threatened by gunfire, humiliated and verbally abused. Delays,
denial of access and arbitrary searches continue to have a serious impact
on the sick and the wounded in Bethlehem, Nablus, Qalqilia, Tubas and Gaza.
Bethlehem, December 22 2003 (19:00):
Israeli soldiers at the Container checkpoint stopped a PRCS ambulance team
on route to check on colleagues who had previously been detained by Israeli
soldiers for 13 hours at the same checkpoint. As one of the PRCS team exited
the ambulance and attempted to inquire regarding the detained medical staff
he was attacked by one of the soldiers at the checkpoint.
In addition to the above, the following table lists incidents of denial and delay of access during this reporting period.
| PRCS Branch | Date | Checkpoint | Delay of access (unless indicated 'denied access') |
Nablus | 26/12/2003 | Balata refugee Camp | 15 minutes |
26/12/2003 | Howwara | 35 minutes | |
26/12/2003 | Al-Dahya neighbourhood | 20 minutes
Denial access | |
26/12/2003 | Balata refugee camp | 7 hours | |
Qalqilia | 21/12/2003 | Jaljolia | 120 minutes |
26/12/2003 | Amteen intersection | 90 minutes | |
Tubas | 20/12/2003 | Sora checkpoint | 40 minutes |
Gaza
| 20/12/2003 | Al- Mawase area | 55 minutes
Denial access |
22/12/2003 | Khan Younis/Abu Holi | 3 hours | |
25/12/2003 | Khan Younis/Al-Dalta area | Denial Access | |
25/12/2003 | Khan Younis/Al-Dalta area | 4 hours
Denial access | |
Bethlehem
| 22/12/2003 | Al-Walaja checkpoint | Denial access |
23/12/2003 | Housan checkpoint | 3 hours |
These incidents constitute a breach of
articles 19, 24 and 25 of the First Geneva Convention, which guarantees
the protection of medical units, establishments and personnel, as well
as articles 27, 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which calls
for the protection of civilians.
For full text see http://www.palestinercs.org/IHL_Refrence_Text.htm
For more information please contact Press Office at:
phone: +972 2 240 6515/6/7
E-mail: pressoffice@palestinercs.org