Ramallah: Israeli colonists in the occupied West Bank have reportedly extended their violent activities to obstructing ambulances, preventing them from reaching injured and sick individuals in critical need of medical assistance.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, ambulance crews have provided video evidence documenting attempts by colonists to block emergency vehicles. These actions hinder ambulances from delivering urgent care to victims of colonist and Israeli army violence, as well as other patients requiring immediate medical attention.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) released a video on Thursday showing a colonist blocking one of its ambulances en route to the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, where local residents reported injuries following a colonist attack. The Society also noted a similar incident on Wednesday evening when medical teams were obstructed while heading to the village of Kafr Malik, where a colonist attack, supported by Israeli occupation forces, resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians and injuries to seven others by live ammunition.
Speaking to WAFA, Nibal Farsakh, the PRCS spokesperson, stated that their teams face significant challenges in reaching the wounded and sick due to escalating attacks by Israeli forces and colonists. The increasing number of military checkpoints and gates further complicates the provision of prompt medical services across the West Bank.
Farsakh explained that attacks by the Israeli army and colonists have intensified, aiming to prevent medical assistance to those in need. The obstruction of ambulances in Turmus Ayya and Kafr Malik reflects a growing pattern over recent months, posing direct threats to the safety of medical teams and patients.
The PRCS spokesperson added that attacks on ambulances and medical teams have increased since the onset of Israel's military actions in Gaza in October 2023. Farsakh emphasized that these actions violate international humanitarian law, particularly by obstructing or preventing ambulances from reaching their destinations.
Despite prior coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Israeli forces frequently hinder ambulances from accessing certain areas, complicating the delivery of essential healthcare services. Farsakh noted that medical teams often face direct assaults, including gunfire, detainment, and physical attacks.
The spokesperson reiterated that obstructing medical teams, preventing patient transport, and attacking healthcare workers constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law, breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which aims to protect civilians during times of war.
