During this reporting period,
the Israeli Army has continued to violate International Humanitarian Law and
Fundamental Human Rights, by restricting freedom of movement to Palestine Red
Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams. Delays of access and
arbitrary searches had a negative impact on the sick in Nablus and Gaza Strip.
|
PRCS Branch |
Date
|
Checkpoint |
Delay of access (unless indicated 'denied access') |
|
Nablus |
11/12/2004 |
Burin |
120 minutes |
|
Gaza |
15/12/2004 |
Al Tuffah |
120 minutes |
|
16/12/2004 |
Al Matahin |
150 minutes |
During this reporting period, a
total of 17 deaths and 37 injuries were reported in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
These practices constitute a
breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the First Additional Protocol of the
Geneva conventions, which are legally applied to the occupied Palestinian
territories. In particular, they violate articles 20 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention which guarantees the protection and respect of persons who engage in
the search for, removal and transport of and caring for wounded and sick
civilians, and article 63 which stresses that ” Subject to temporary and
exceptional measures imposed for urgent reasons of security by the Occupied
Power, recognized National red cross and red crescent societies shall be able to
pursue their activities in accordance with Red Cross principles, as defined by
the international Red Cross Conferences…”. In addition to articles 12 and 15 of
the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva conventions which guarantees that “
Medical units shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the
object of attack and shall have access to any place where their services are
essential” and article 16 which stresses that, “Under no circumstances shall any
person be punished for carrying out medical activities compatible with medical
ethics, regardless of the person benefiting there from.”, in addition to article
21, which stresses that,” Medical vehicles shall be respected and protected in
the same way as mobile medical units under the Conventions and this Protocol.”