Five Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces

Five Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces in Gaza - International Human Rights Activists continue to accompany medical teams in northern Gaza

For Immediate Release

4th January 2008, northern Gaza: International Human Rights Activists
working with Palestinian medical crews today reported that another
five Palestinian medics were killed today by Israeli forces.

International Solidarity Movement activists spent the night
accompanying ambulances in Gaza. They were, and will continue, working
with medical personnel during the Israeli occupation forces ground
invasion into northern Gaza.

“In addition to the doctor and medic that the Israeli military
murdered on the 31st of December, they have killed five more medics
today. One was shot in Jabaliya, one in Al Sheikh Ejleen. Three have
just been killed when a missile directly hit their ambulance in the
Tal Hawye neighborhood in Gaza City. The medics are constantly in
contact with the Red Cross for them to negotiate passage with the
Israelis. The Israelis constantly refuse.” Sharon Lock (Australia) –
International Solidarity Movement

The Israelis dropped a bomb in front of our ambulance to prevent us
accessing wounded people. However a donkey cart emerged carrying a
wounded family; a mother and father and three teenage brothers. One of
the teenagers was attempting to shield the other two with a blanket.
They were both horrifically injured, I could see the lungs of one of
them. As I assisted the medics to move him off the cart I found my
hand inside his body.” Alberto Arce (Spain) – International Solidarity
Movement

“I got a call 30 minutes ago, on a poor phone line, saying that Arafat
is dead, killed while working, by Israeli fire. He was one of the
emergency medics I met two nights ago, compassionate, emotionally
strong, and with an unabashedly wacky sense of humour. I’m more
saddened by his death than I can express.” Eva Bartlett (Canada) –
International Solidarity Movement

“Israel is claiming that there is no humanitarian crisis because they
do not consider us as humans. ” – Natalie Abu Shakra (Lebanon) –
International Solidarity Movement

"Israel has continued to violate international conventions by
attacking medical personnel. They are massacring the people of Gaza.
With the swelling number of civilian casualties, Israel must ensure
that medical assistance is available. Instead, they are intentionally
targeting the medical teams that are meant to be protected by the
Geneva Conventions. Israel's disregard for international law must be
confronted by the international community." – Vittorio Arrigoni
(Italy) – International Solidarity Movement

“The ground invasion of last night has lead to Beit Lahiya and Beit
Hanoun being shut down. We managed to get into Beit Hanoun to collect
bodies of some of the dead. We are now headed to Jabaliya to continue
our work with ambulance accompaniment. There is nowhere for the Gazan
people to escape to, civilians cannot leave for safety because of the
siege. These prolonged attacks on Gaza are horrific and last night’s
ground invasion by the Israeli occupation forces has led to a swelling
amount of civilian casualties. ” Ewa Jasiewicz – Free Gaza Movement

ENDS

For blogs from inside Gaza see:

www.ingaza.wordpress.com

www.talestotell.wordpress.com

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