This morning we received several reports of Israeli assaults on medical personnel and the wounded. At 11 o’clock this morning, Israeli forces stopped two ambulances near the Arab Bank in the old city of Ramallah. One ambulance belongs to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the other belongs to the Ministry of Health. The crew, including paramedics, has been arrested. At this moment, Israeli forces in Ramallah are using the ambulance to move around in the city. Additionally, a few minutes later, another ambulance, belonging to the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees has been confiscated near the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. The driver and the injured have been arrested.
Earlier, last night, another ambulance belonging to the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, transporting two injured persons from Arafat’s compound, was stopped by the Israeli forces. Dr. Muhammad Iskafi and the driver of the ambulance, Karim Samara, in addition to the two injured, have been arrested. The Israeli soldiers removed the bandage from the injured, handcuffed the four persons, and pushed them on the ground. They had to stay there from 10 o’clock until 1 o’clock in the morning. The ambulance has been confiscated by the Israeli army.
Meanwhile reports from hospitals in Ramallah indicate that Ramallah is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Hospitals report lack of blood and oxygin.
