Second Palestine Red Crescent paramedic killed in a week
8 March 2002

A Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic, 40-year-old Ibrahim Assad was killed in his ambulance in Tulkarem, in the northern part of the West Bank last night, by Israeli army fire, as he was responding to an emergency call. Another paramedic, Kamal Hamdan who was working for the United Nations (UNRWA), was also killed in the incident. Two other PRCS emergency medical technicians were injured. Mr. Assad, a married man with two young children, had been with the PRCS for the past 12 years.

The deaths and injuries occurred when the Israeli army shot at three ambulances - two from the PRCS and one from the UN - as they left their station in central Tulkarem last night, to respond to emergency calls, after obtaining clearance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Israeli army authorities. One UN paramedic was also wounded in the incident. There were also two attacks on ambulances last night in Gaza; one Palestinian Authority paramedic was killed and a PRCS paramedic was wounded.

In a joint news conference held this morning in Jerusalem by representatives from the Palestine Red Crescent, the ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, a very strong appeal was made to the Israeli authorities to respect the missions of emergency medical personnel. René Kosirnik, head of the ICRC delegation in Tel-Aviv, expressed his disappointment with the lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities, who have refused offers to discuss ways of facilitating the work of emergency medical personnel and ambulances with the ICRC, the PRCS and the Magen David Adom, the Israeli counterpart of the PRCS.

He also reiterated that the attacks on ambulances and medical personnel were flagrant violations of the Geneva Conventions and appealed to the international community to intervene to stop the violence against medical teams. The President of the Palestine Red Crescent, Younis Al-Khatib, also called for international support and protection for medical teams in the West Bank and Gaza. He also said the PRCS would follow these cases in order to bring the people responsible for the killings to justice.

"These incidents are a tremendous challenge for the morale of the Palestine Red Crescent medical workers. This situation could hamper the entire humanitarian mission of the Palestine Red Crescent," said the head of the Federation's office in the West Bank, Ola Skuterud. The International Federation and the ICRC have sent their heartfelt condolences to the PRCS and to the families of the victims as well as hopes for speedy recovery of the wounded.

Ibrahim Assad is the third PRCS worker to be killed since the current cycle of violence erupted, in late September 2000. Dr. Khalil Sulieman, Head of the Palestine Red Crescent Society Emergency Medical Service in Jenin was killed on March 4, 2002. Four other Palestine Red Crescent paramedics, as well as a volunteer, were injured in the incident. Three are still in hospital, with severe burns. In October 2000, Bassam Balbeisi, an emergency medical technician, was killed in Gaza as he was trying to save two civilians caught in cross-fire between Palestinians and Israelis. A total of 140 PRCS volunteers and personnel have been injured since September 2000.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

For the Federation : Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel.: + 41 22 730 4346 / + 41 79 217 33 45

For the ICRC : Vincent Lusser, Information Officer Tel.: + 41 22 730 2458 / + 41 79 217 3224

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.