4 March 2022
On Tuesday 1 March, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) delivered a new ambulance to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). This will bolster the vital work of their paramedic teams, and comes at a critical time amid increasing violence in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
“We thank MAP for supporting us with this donation of a new ambulance, which is needed to continue our humanitarian mission, especially during clashes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood,” said Mohammad Fityani, spokesperson for the PRCS.
In recent weeks, PRCS medical teams have been responding once again to violence by Israeli forces and discriminatory policies against Palestinians across East Jerusalem and the West Bank. On Monday 28 February, Palestinians in East Jerusalem gathered at Damascus Gate in the Old City to mark the Islamic holy day of al-Isra wal-Miraj. This day was supposed to see scenes of celebration. But it soon turned into another dark day of bloodshed and repression.
According to the PRCS, their teams treated 36 people injured by Israeli forces, who used skunk water, stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse Palestinians. Among the injured was an 11-year-old deaf child who was taken to hospital and suffered a fractured jaw after being hit by a stun grenade, and a 12-year-old girl who was beaten by Israeli forces and put in a headlock.
This comes soon after renewed violence against Palestinians protesting Israel’s discriminatory policies, demonstrating the great need for the additional PRCS ambulance which will serve more than 10,000 Palestinians, and will help reduce the risk of mortality and long-term disability among those requiring emergency care.
Amid increasing violence by Israeli forces and discriminatory policies against #Palestinians across occupied #EastJerusalem and the #WestBank, MAP delivered a new ambulance to bolster the critical efforts of the @PalestineRCS.
— Medical Aid for Palestinians (@MedicalAidPal) March 4, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/bThnmHYPpm pic.twitter.com/dRLkqp8Tm8
Alongside strengthening the resources and work of the PRCS, MAP will continue to call for an end to attacks on health workers. In 2021, there were 103 violations against PRCS teams and vehicles in the occupied Palestinian territory, and medics have once again come under attack during the start of 2022.
At the upcoming UN Human Rights Council, the UK has an opportunity to vote on resolutions demanding that Israel respect international law and calling for accountability for systematic violations of Palestinians’ rights to health and dignity, and repeated attacks on health workers. Ahead of this, MAP is pressing for the UK government to finally stand up against Israel’s discriminatory domination of Palestinians.
Over the past year, we have also delivered first aid kits, medical consumables and other emergency supplies to the PRCS, Palestinian Medical Relief Society, and hospitals in East Jerusalem.
Please consider continuing to support our response and the critical work of PRCS by making a donation today.
