LONDON: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a UK-based charity, has provided £18,500 ($23,900) worth of bulletproof vests and helmets to healthcare workers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem following a rise in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers, according to a report by The Guardian on Wednesday.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported a significant increase in incidents targeting healthcare workers and vehicles, with 193 reported cases in 2023 alone, marking a 310 percent surge compared to the previous year. The escalation in violence has been observed since March 2022, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began conducting frequent raids on the West Bank towns of Nablus and Jenin.
Healthcare workers have been specifically targeted during these attacks, with live ammunition and steel-coated rubber bullets used against them while administering treatment. Ambulances attempting to access or transfer the injured have also faced obstruction.
Israeli Aggression Against Palestinians
The recent Israeli operation in Jenin, the largest IDF operation in the West Bank in 20 years, resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians and one Israeli. Reports indicated that ambulances were targeted by live fire and prevented from reaching the injured.
The IDF has denied accusations that its personnel blocked Palestinian medics from performing their duties. In a statement, the IDF asserted that it allows free access to medical teams throughout the West Bank and engages in dialogue with Palestinian officials to mitigate risks to non-combatants, including medical teams operating in combat areas.
Threat to Healthcare Workers
To address the increasing risks faced by Palestinian healthcare workers, the Palestine Red Crescent started providing protective gear earlier this year. However, the organization faced challenges in funding and importing body armor into the West Bank.
In response to the urgent need for protection, MAP, which typically supplies medications, equipment, and trauma training to Palestinian medical staff and paramedics, has provided an additional 20 sets of bulletproof jackets and helmets.
Ahmed Jibril, the head of the emergency and ambulance department at the Red Crescent branch in Nablus, emphasized the importance of this support, stating that the bulletproof vests and helmets will provide a crucial layer of protection for their teams, enabling them to continue saving lives and providing essential medical services despite the adversities they face.
MAP Director Melanie Ward expressed the necessity of this intervention, highlighting that no health worker should have to risk their life to save others.
