With reference to a statement by the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland re Palestinian Ambulances carrying bombs, I wish to refer him to a Press statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) of March 27 2002. The Ambulance in question was carrying a mother 3 children a Doctor and a Medic and was travelling from Nablus to Ramallah. It passed through 4 checkpoints and was searched by the Israeli Army (IDF), before it was forced to stop at a checkpoint south of Ramallah by shots fired by soldiers as the Ambulance approached. All passengers were ordered out. The IDF told them that the ambulance was carrying explosives. The driver who has been with PRCS for 6 years was arrested. The others were told to leave the area. The IDF's claim that they had arrested 'militants on their most wanted list' is untrue.
The PRCS statement says
'Our message to the Israeli public is simple; you have nothing to fear
from our ambulamces.'
Their message to the IDF states,
1.We seek an independent inquiry of the incident.
2. That the IDF stop the attacks and disinformation campaign against the
Red Crescent ambulances and staff.
3.We are proceeding with steps to prosecute Israeli Army commanders
responsible for the death and injury to our medics and staff over the past
weeks.'
The statement also calls for the release of the ambulance driver who is
still being held, and also requets that the international community come
and be neutral observers on the ground to prevent more bloodshed and human
rights abuses.
The statement continues
'We are amazed at how the Israeli army managed to invite the media and
Press corps to the area even before confirming the presence of an explosive
device. Our investigation leads us to believe that this was a staged event
by the IDF in order to taint the reputation of the Red Crescent ambulances.
One wonders at the perfect timing and location of the incident so close to
the media, and of the IDF claim that they had arrested militants. The PRCS
remains committed to providing ambulance care to all in need, both Israeli
and Palestinian'.
The Director of the Red Crescent in Jenin was killed with a Doctor when their ambulance was bombed by an IDF tank in early March 2002. 2 medics were killed in Gaza and 2 in Turkharem. Over the past 19 months 225 medical workers have been wounded. During the past 3 weeks in Nablus several ambulances have been shot at.
I have witnessed first hand the constant harassment to the ambulance staff by the IDF at checkpoints. Many wounded have died due to this, and many women have given birth in horrifying circunstances while being held up at checkpoints.
Considering these attacks and human rights abuses and death of medical
staff which are continuing daily and deplored by concerned people in the
international community, one wonders at the timing of this incident, which
this author feels was aimed at destroying the reputation of the ambulance
and emergency medical relief workers who are doing such brave work in
terrifying conditions.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Kelly, SRN
Nablus
Palestine.
For further info please write to the Red Crescent at PressOffice@PalestinianRCS.org or call Dr Hossam Sharkawi or Dr Wael Qadan at 9722 240 6515.