On July 19, 2023, at 3:00 a.m. EDT, ambulances were parked at the Red Cross headquarters in Nablus, West Bank, preparing for a night shift. Yasser Antar, a medic with more than 15 years of experience in the West Bank, expressed his heightened fear due to the increased violence between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that attacks on Palestinian medics and interference with their work have quadrupled in the first half of 2023. Israeli soldiers have physically assaulted medics, targeted their ambulances with live ammunition and tear gas canisters, and impeded their access to the wounded. The number of incidents recorded by the Red Crescent has reached 193, surpassing the previous year’s total. Due to this danger, medics now bid farewell to their colleagues before each call, unsure if they will return safely.
Antar shared his experiences with The Washington Post, recounting instances where tear gas canisters were shot at his ambulance, bullets pierced their vehicle, and medics were physically attacked by Israeli soldiers. Another medic, Imad Abu Jaish, spoke about being shot while wearing his Red Crescent uniform. These incidents have prompted Palestinian medics to request bulletproof vests as essential supplies.
Medical Aid for Palestinians, an aid and advocacy group based in London, announced a shipment of bulletproof vests and helmets for Red Crescent teams in response to this urgent need. Meanwhile, the Red Crescent has filed complaints with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding the incidents. However, these cases typically go unresolved, with no response from the military investigators.
The IDF, in response, stated that it allows free access to medical teams throughout the West Bank and denies allegations of preventing medical treatment. Nevertheless, tensions have remained high between Palestinian medics and Israeli soldiers throughout Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Despite this, there has been a working relationship between the sides, with Red Crescent ambulances often providing aid to injured Israelis.
However, the surge in violence has strained this relationship. More calls for paramedics have been logged due to the increased IDF raids in West Bank cities. Furthermore, there have been reports of IDF vehicles blocking or pushing ambulances, indicating a shift in Israeli tactics. The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern about the spike in incidents against medical workers and emphasized the importance of respecting and protecting medical missions.
The Palestinian Red Crescent officials reported that their teams were denied access to the wounded during Israel’s raid on Jenin, and their ambulances and personal belongings were confiscated by soldiers. Despite the introduction of new body armor for protection, medics felt that it made them more visible targets in the tense camps.
The article concludes by highlighting the need to prioritize the safety and protection of healthcare providers and patients in the midst of escalating violence. It also notes that the number of violations reported so far does not include the recent raid on Jenin, which further impacted the work of the Red Crescent.
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