Israeli soldiers today invaded a Medical Relief clinic in Beit Lahiya, the Gaza Strip. The soldiers proceeded to dismiss some of the clinic staff, and detained others. They still remain in the building.

Yesterday in Nablus, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint stopped an ambulance. This is customary practice throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but this time the abuse of human rights went further.

The Palestinian Medical Relief ambulance driver, Firas Al-Baqri, who had just taken a cancer patient home after receiving treatment, was ordered to stop. He then was made to leave his vehicle by one of the soldiers, who began to beat him. Firas told us how the soldier punched him in the face and on his body. His hands were also tied. This beating continued for around ten minutes, and was witnessed by other medical staff in the ambulance, and two workers from the Red Cross – Hosam As-Shaqsheer and an unknown foreign woman.

No intervention was able to halt this unprovoked attack, and all the medical staff were prevented from leaving the military checkpoint.

Despite this appalling treatment Firas, who was eventually released, said that it would not stop him from continuing his work. Pointing out that Israeli soldiers had killed other medical personnel in the last two years, he believes it is important not to be intimidated into stopping “this important humanitarian work”.

For more information contact Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi +972 2 2985372 or +972 (0)59 254218