Stop Attacks on Medical Relief Services
http://www.upmrc.org/content/publications/press_popup038.html
22/05/03
We are pleased to announce the release of Mr Nasaif Al Dik (Coordinator of Community Health Projects), Shadi Abu Bakr and Ahmed Badwan (Medical Relief Volunteers). All were arrested whilst in their homes, along with Dr Mohammed Skafi (Head of Emergency Services and First Aid), on the 5th of May. Dr Skafi was released on the 7th of May. Mr Nasaif Al Dik was detained, without charge by the Israeli army for over two weeks. We would like to thank the international community for their great efforts in demanding the release of the medical personnel.
Unfortunately the Israeli occupying army has again attacked a Medical Relief Emergency clinic. At 2.30am, on Thursday the 22nd of May 35 Israeli soldiers invaded the clinic in the Al Yasmina neighborhood, in the old city in Nablus. They also invaded the apartment above the clinic. This apartment is home to the Al Dari family - the youngest is 10 years old, the eldest, a 62-year-old woman.
Israeli soldiers surrounded the clinic, shooting continuously. According to Maher Al Dari (father of three), he crawled from his bedroom to his children to protect them. He managed to move them away from the area being shot at. The Israeli soldiers blew open the door of the clinic and entered shooting randomly. They entered the apartment and interrogated the family (including the children). They then forced them to evacuate the building. They arrested three of the family members, Maher (50), Ayman (42) and Nimr (40) and kept them handcuffed in a military van. They threatened them claiming that if the clinic continued to operate, the soldiers would return and completely demolish the building. They vandalized Nimr's car which he uses as a service in order to earn a living, and stole mobile phones.
The Israeli soldiers continued to shoot inside the clinic and the family's apartment. Shots were fired at a sofa, used as a bed for the 10-year-old child - fortunately the child was not on the sofa. They vandalized the clinic, breaking furniture and bottles of medicine. According to one member of staff, there was an oxygen cylinder and had the Israeli soldiers shot at it, it would have caused a huge explosion.
Since October 2002, the Israeli army has invaded the Medical Relief Emergency clinic four times. This clinic is well known by the Israeli army. There are two PMRS flags and a large sign identifying it as a clinic. It serves the Al Yasmina neighborhood, which has a population of approximately 7000 people. It also serves nine other neighborhoods nearby. This clinic is the only Emergency Medical Relief center inside the old city. During Israeli army attacks, it is virtually impossible for residents in the old city to reach a hospital, therefore Palestinians rely on this clinic. The whole purpose of the attack was to convey a threat from the Israeli army, if the clinic continues to operate, it will be destroyed.
PMRS severely condemns this attack, as it is a violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Much is needed from the clinic's services. This attack is a dangerous sign as the Israeli occupying army has invaded humanitarian services.
Dr Ghassan Hamdan (Director of PMRS in Nablus) is currently in Geneva meeting with the Director General of the World Health Organization. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Israeli army attacks on Palestinian Health services. This recent attack has provided yet another example, which will be referred to by Dr Hamdan. In addition, aside from the horrific destruction of medical supplies, the Israeli army endangered the lives of children, causing them to experience extreme terror.
We call upon all humanitarian, human rights and health organizations to apply immediate pressure on the Israeli army and the Israeli government to end attacks on Medical Relief facilities, as it is a grave violation of International Law. We reiterate that the Emergency Medical Relief clinic is used to treat Palestinian civilians who heavily rely on the services it provides. Please protest to the following:
Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan Street, P O Box 187
Jerusalem 91919, Israel
Fax: +972 2 6705475 E-mail: rohm@pmo.gov.il
Elyakim Rubinstein
Attorney-General/Legal Advisor to the Government
Ministry of Justice
9 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem 91010, Israel
Fax: +972 2 6285438
Shaul Mofaz
Minister of Defence
Kaplan St.
Hakirya Tel-Aviv 61909
Tel: 972-3-5692010 Fax: 972-3-6916940
Mr Sergio de Mello
UN High Commissioner on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paris
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
For further information please contact the PMRC office on 02-298-8234/ 0550
or 059-254-218
www.upmrc.org
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