Medecins du Monde (MdM), Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel)
and the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC) are
joining their voice to announce a series of violations of basic
humanitarian laws and principles committed by the Israeli Army in
Nablus. These violations are taking place in the overall context of
massive military operations led by the Israeli army for more than a
week. Among widespread violations of the international humanitarian law,
we have noted the following:

In the night of 25 to 26 August, Israeli military forces entered the
emergency services of Rafidia hospital to arrest two seriously wounded
patients, admitted in intensive care unit. The violent methods employed
by the soldiers put the life of the two persons into real danger.

On August 25, two clinics belonging to the UPMRC and Health Work
Committees, in the east and in the south of the city, were invaded by
the army On August 26, Israeli soldiers forced their way into the MDM /
Nablus municipality dispensary, occupied the medical facility, searched
the medical files and damaged the premises. The occupation of this
medical facility lasted more than one day and prevented the surrounding
population to access basic health cares. The medical personnel have been
several times denied in the right to access the dispensary and to
provide medical assistance.

On 28 August, MDM witnessed denial by the Israeli soldiers to let UPMRC
emergency team provide first aid to civilians retained by the soldiers
in a building. Meanwhile, UPMRC staff trying to provide assistance to
the Balata Camp population was prevented to enter. In addition, the
soldiers confiscated and destroyed their ID cards.

In reaction to these persistent and repeated breaches of international
humanitarian conventions, MDM, PHR-Israel and UPRMRC are demanding the
Israeli authorities to stop violating basic humanitarian principles and
to respect the fundamental rights for every patients to access health
services and for medical personnel to move freely at any time.

For details please contact:
UPMRC, Mustafa Barghouthi, 972 59 254218
PHR-Israel, Miri Weingarten, 972 67 700477
MdM, Blandine Contamin, 972-57 249450

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/Other%20Updates/joint_appeal_mdm_phr_upm
rc.htm