The Use of Palestinian Ambulances as Weapons of Terror
EDITOR – The continuing conflict in the Middle East is a humanitarian
tragedy. The Director General of the WHO was saddened that some of the
casualties of the recent conflicts have been health workers responding to
people’s acute needs and distress(1). Your report also explains that some
of the Palestinian Red Crescent Ambulances have been fired on(2). It is
important however to explain the reason for this.
To the dismay of Israeli Security, Red Crescent ambulances have long
been used to smuggle both weapons and terrorists. There is clear evidence
to support this. On 27th March, a Palestinian Ambulance driver was
arrested carrying 10 kilograms of explosive devices in his ambulance at a
roadblock near Jerusalem. Within the ambulance, he was also carrying a
man, woman, and three children, and thus also endangering their lives.
It is extremely distressing that the Israeli Army must inspect all
ambulances slowing down their progress to emergency centres. It is also
saddening to hear that they must shoot at ambulances that try to evade
roadblocks. However, as long as terrorist organisations continue to
exploit the emergency services, this will have to continue.
The words of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland could therefore not be more
precise. “The targeting of civilians in the conflict is a deplorable
development....I appeal to all sides in the conflict to accept the
critical role of doctors, nurses and paramedical workers on duty, to
respect their neutrality, equip them to save lives and relieve suffering,
and allow them to do this vital work in safety.”(1)
---------------
1. Statement by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the
World Health Organisation, Escalation in Middle Eastern Conflict Raises
Major Concerns for Human Health, 13 March 2002, www.who.int , accessed
27/3/02
2. Eaton L, WHO Calls for safety of Health Workers in Palestinian
territories, BMJ 2002; 324:698 (23 March)
Rapid Response:
The Use of Palestinian Ambulances as Weapons of Terror
EDITOR – The continuing conflict in the Middle East is a humanitarian
tragedy. The Director General of the WHO was saddened that some of the
casualties of the recent conflicts have been health workers responding to
people’s acute needs and distress(1). Your report also explains that some
of the Palestinian Red Crescent Ambulances have been fired on(2). It is
important however to explain the reason for this.
To the dismay of Israeli Security, Red Crescent ambulances have long
been used to smuggle both weapons and terrorists. There is clear evidence
to support this. On 27th March, a Palestinian Ambulance driver was
arrested carrying 10 kilograms of explosive devices in his ambulance at a
roadblock near Jerusalem. Within the ambulance, he was also carrying a
man, woman, and three children, and thus also endangering their lives.
It is extremely distressing that the Israeli Army must inspect all
ambulances slowing down their progress to emergency centres. It is also
saddening to hear that they must shoot at ambulances that try to evade
roadblocks. However, as long as terrorist organisations continue to
exploit the emergency services, this will have to continue.
The words of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland could therefore not be more
precise. “The targeting of civilians in the conflict is a deplorable
development....I appeal to all sides in the conflict to accept the
critical role of doctors, nurses and paramedical workers on duty, to
respect their neutrality, equip them to save lives and relieve suffering,
and allow them to do this vital work in safety.”(1)
---------------
1. Statement by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the
World Health Organisation, Escalation in Middle Eastern Conflict Raises
Major Concerns for Human Health, 13 March 2002, www.who.int , accessed
27/3/02
2. Eaton L, WHO Calls for safety of Health Workers in Palestinian
territories, BMJ 2002; 324:698 (23 March)
3. Ha’aretz Newspaper Website, IDF arrests Palestinian ambulance
driver carrying explosives, www.haaretzdaily.com , accessed 27/3/02
Competing interests: No competing interests