Incidents against medical teams, ambulances and medical facilities in the West Bank and Jerusalem

Press release, Press releases

With the recent escalation of violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank, these last weeks have seen an increase in the number of reports received at Physicians for Human Rights – Israel on incidents against medical teams. Information received from rescue organizations operating on the ground and testimonies collected by the organization suggest that, as of October 13th, over forty incidents had taken place.

These include seven cases of physical attacks on ambulance teams (five cases of direct violence, and two cases of rubber bullets being fired); nine cases of shots fired at ambulances (using live ammunition in at least two cases); 21 more cases of ambulances being delayed (between 10-70 minutes), out of which three were refused passage; and one incident perpetrated by settlers against an ambulance.

Actions directed against rescue teams disregard the special protection they are granted under international law. The scope of the offenses indicates increased military permissiveness, which adversely affects and delays the work of medical staff and hinders the treatment of the wounded.

Physicians for Human Rights – Israel has already addressed the Defense Minister, the Health Minister and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, warning them of the situation and demanding that the activity of medical teams be respected in light of the numerous incidents. It has also asked the Israeli Medical Association and Magen David Adom to react to these events.

Yet again, the escalation of violence erodes the protection granted to medical teams. These incidents do not happen in a vacuum: they are part of the routine of the military occupation of the Palestinian territories, which is the source of systematic violations of Palestinian rights – including the right to safe and timely health care.

Physicians for Human Rights – Israel calls on the international community to urge Israeli security services to put an end to such offenses. All health care staff should be granted safe and unimpeded access at all times.