Paramedic killed as shell hits ambulance in Gaza
Posted by musliminsuffer on January 5, 2009
bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
=== News Update ===
Paramedic killed as shell hits ambulance in Gaza
A paramedic working for an Oxfam-funded organisation was killed today after an ambulance was hit by an Israeli-fired shell, the charity said.
The Palestinian, working for the Union of Health Work Committees, was killed in Gaza.
Another paramedic lost his foot and the ambulance driver was injured in the same incident.
The paramedic was trying to help evacuate an injured person in the Beit Lahiya area, when the shell struck the ambulance, Oxfam said.
The UN estimates over 100 civilians have been killed in Gaza over the past week although some other organisations believe the civilian death toll is significantly higher.
John Prideaux-Brune, Oxfam’s Country Director for Israel and Palestine, speaking from Jerusalem said: “The incident shows yet again that trying to fight a military campaign in the densely populated streets and alleys of the Gaza Strip will inevitably lead to civilian casualties.
“There are no safe areas and Gazans who want to flee the fighting have been prevented from leaving the Strip.”
The charity said that the Israeli ground offensive into Gaza is preventing urgently needed supplies of medicine, food, water, and fuel from reaching one and a half million Palestinian women, men and children.
Prideaux-Brune added: “Hospitals in Gaza are overflowing with dead and wounded while facing severe shortages of essential medical supplies and spare parts.
“Oxfam and local partners have had to suspend all our work, apart from emergency medical aid. Many of our colleagues in Gaza are trapped in their homes, and in fear of their and their families’ lives. Others, such as the paramedic have lost their lives trying to save others.
“The trickle of humanitarian aid that Israel has sometimes allowed in through one border crossing at Kerem Shalom has been completely inadequate to meet the needs of 1.5 million people – 80% of whom are reliant on this aid.
“Since the start of the Israeli ground offensive, even that trickle has dried up.
An immediate ceasefire is urgently needed to allow essential aid to reach those families who need it.”
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UPDATE:
Five medics killed by Israeli forces in Gaza
January 4th, 2009
International Human Rights Activists working with Palestinian medical crews today reported that another five Palestinian medics were killed today by Israeli forces.
International Solidarity Movement activists spent the night accompanying ambulances in Gaza. They were, and will continue, working with medical personnel during the Israeli occupation forces ground invasion into northern Gaza.
“In addition to the doctor and medic that the Israeli military murdered on the 31st of December, they have killed five more medics today. One was shot in Jabaliya, one in Al Sheikh Ejleen. Three have just been killed when a missile directly hit their ambulance in the Tal Hawye neighborhood in Gaza City. The medics are constantly in contact with the Red Cross for them to negotiate passage with the Israelis. The Israelis constantly refuse.” Sharon Lock (Australia) – International Solidarity Movement
The Israelis dropped a bomb in front of our ambulance to prevent us accessing wounded people. However a donkey cart emerged carrying a wounded family; a mother and father and three teenage brothers. One of the teenagers was attempting to shield the other two with a blanket. They were both horrifically injured, I could see the lungs of one of them. As I assisted the medics to move him off the cart I found my hand inside his body.” Alberto Arce (Spain) – International Solidarity Movement
“I got a call 30 minutes ago, on a poor phone line, saying that Arafat is dead, killed while working, by Israeli fire. He was one of the emergency medics I met two nights ago, compassionate, emotionally strong, and with an unabashedly wacky sense of humour. I’m more saddened by his death than I can express.” Eva Bartlett (Canada) – International Solidarity Movement
“Israel is claiming that there is no humanitarian crisis because they do not consider us as humans. ” – Natalie Abu Shakra (Lebanon) – International Solidarity Movement
“The ground invasion of last night has lead to Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun being shut down. We managed to get into Beit Hanoun to collect bodies of some of the dead. We are now headed to Jabaliya to continue our work with ambulance accompaniment. There is nowhere for the Gazan people to escape to, civilians cannot leave for safety because of the siege. These prolonged attacks on Gaza are horrific and last night’s ground invasion by the Israeli occupation forces has led to a swelling amount of civilian casualties. ” Ewa Jasiewicz – Free Gaza MovementHuman Rights Activists in Gaza
- Ewa Jasiewicz – Poland/Britain
- Alberto Arce – Spain
- Dr. Haider Eid – South Africa
- Sharon Lock – Australia
- Fida Qishta – Palestine
- Jenny Linnel – Britain
- Natalie Abu Shakra – Lebanon
- Vittorio Arrigoni – Italy
- Eva Bartlett – Canada
For free footage from Ramatan News Agency inside Gaza: eutelsatw6. downlink 11691.08 horizontal symbol rate 2.894. this will work if ec is 3 over 4 (satellite co-ordinates)
For blogs from inside Gaza see:
http://www.ingaza.wordpress.com/
http://www.talestotell.wordpress.com/
http://www.palsolidarity.org/
source: http://atheonews.blogspot.com/2009/01/paramedic-killed-as-shell-hits.html
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-muslim voice-
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BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW
