Gaza: Occupation Stole Ambulance Keys to Prevent Their Use

The Palestinian Red Crescent accused the Israeli army on Saturday, February 10, 2024, of “stealing” keys to ambulance vehicles and administrative cars to prevent them from operating, after raiding its Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, while the World Health Organization demanded the release of all those who were arrested, including patients and workers from within the hospital.

The association said in a post on the “X” platform: “After the Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Amal Hospital, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent in Khan Yunis, they stole all the keys to the ambulance vehicles and administrative vehicles.”

They added: “They locked the steering wheels to prevent the crews from operating the vehicles, amidst the continued siege and targeting of the hospital for the twentieth consecutive day.”

On Friday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that the Israeli army had arrested a number of its employees, as well as wounded and companions of patients, in Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, during a prolonged raid.

The association stated, in a statement, that the Israeli army “raided the hospital for about 10 hours, during which they carried out inspection and sabotage operations of devices, equipment, and furniture, as well as detained, interrogated, and assaulted the crews, in addition to preventing them from drinking and using toilets.”

The statement accused the army of “stealing money from the association, employees, patients, and their companions, as well as stealing their personal belongings.”

It added: “The forces also seized several computers and wireless communication devices owned by the crews, which are the only means of communication in light of the interruption of communication in Khan Yunis Governorate for about a month.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged Israel to immediately release patients and healthcare workers from Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, “immediately.”

Ghebreyesus expressed his deep concern about “reports of the raid on Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, the arrest of healthcare workers and patients, and the damage to the facility, and the confiscation of its assets and personal belongings.”

He added: “We call for the immediate release of patients and healthcare workers,” emphasizing “the necessity of protecting medical care at all times.”

Israel continues its military operations in various areas of the Gaza Strip as part of its ground offensive, which began on October 27, 2023.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, leaving tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly children and women, as well as an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and extensive infrastructure damage, leading Tel Aviv to face charges of “genocide” before the International Criminal Court.