Soldiers Fire At Ambulance in Gaza

Soldiers fire at ambulance in Gaza; doctor and driver wounded

A Palestinian Medical Relief Society ambulance was fired upon today by the Israeli army, and a doctor and driver were injured. The ambulance had left Khan Younis and was driving north to Deir al-Balah.

It got stuck at Abu Holly checkpoint in Gaza, which was closed. After waiting for about three hours at the checkpoint the soldiers announced that the checkpoint would be reopened. Upon hearing this the people at the checkpoint, including the ambulance driver and the doctor, entered their vehicles.

According to information given to a Physicians for Human Rights-Israel intervention coordinator by Palestinian medical organizations in Gaza, at this point, at around 12:00, the soldiers suddenly, and with no prior warning, opened fire.

The doctor was injured in his right leg, and the driver was injured in both his hands and his right buttocks. The attempt to evacuate them took a very long time, and only after 30 minutes were they able to bring them to Khan Younis hospital. The driver lost a lot of blood and his condition is difficult. He is currently in the operation room.

The doctor is a 32 year old Palestinian and the driver is 51 years old. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel continues to remain in contact with the medical professionals in the Gaza Strip and is following the case closely.

The organization has already filed a complaint with the Israeli army and has informed the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) of the incident.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has condemned repeatedly in the past attacks on medical vehicles, building and, of course, personnel, and again condemns harshly this incident and demands that the army investigate the event and those guilty of firing at medical personnel be brought to justice.

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