Israel Acknowledges Misuse of Ambulance in Deadly West Bank Raid
The incident, resulting in the deaths of two civilians, marks a serious breach of military protocol and raises concerns over violations of international humanitarian law.
The Israeli military has admitted to using an ambulance to transport soldiers during a raid on the Balata Palestinian refugee camp in Nablus, West Bank, a move that led to the deaths of two civilians, including an 80-year-old woman.
The incident occurred on December 19, 2024, when Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel emerged from an emergency vehicle bearing Palestinian license plates, in what rights groups have condemned as a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
Video footage reviewed by The Guardian reveals soldiers disembarking from an ambulance and a civilian van, immediately engaging in gunfire that fatally wounded civilians.
The incident has been described by prominent Israeli rights group B’Tselem as a blatant war crime, highlighting the IDF's disregard for international legal norms.
The raid targeted local militia members allegedly linked to Fatah fighters, but resulted in the deaths of two non-combatants: 80-year-old Halimah Saleh Hassan Abu Leil, who was talking with a neighbor at the time, and Ahmad Qusai ‘Issa Sarouji, a hairdresser with no known militia connections.
The Israeli army's official statement admitted unauthorized use of the ambulance, labeling it a 'violation of existing orders and procedures.' In addition to those killed, several were injured, including Hussein Jamal Abu Leil, a relative of the deceased woman, who underwent critical surgery after being shot.
The commander of the Israeli unit involved has been reprimanded, and further disciplinary action is expected as a consequence of this operation.
Legal experts and human rights advocates decry such actions as severe infringements on the principle of distinction, fundamental to international laws of armed conflict.
The incident occurs amidst escalating violence in the West Bank, compounded by the regional destabilization following the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 700 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since late 2023, amidst widespread detentions by Israeli forces.
This misuse of medical vehicles, typically protected under international law, underscores a worrying trend in military operations in the region, complicating peace efforts and further endangering civilians caught in the crossfire.
The incident occurred on December 19, 2024, when Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel emerged from an emergency vehicle bearing Palestinian license plates, in what rights groups have condemned as a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
Video footage reviewed by The Guardian reveals soldiers disembarking from an ambulance and a civilian van, immediately engaging in gunfire that fatally wounded civilians.
The incident has been described by prominent Israeli rights group B’Tselem as a blatant war crime, highlighting the IDF's disregard for international legal norms.
The raid targeted local militia members allegedly linked to Fatah fighters, but resulted in the deaths of two non-combatants: 80-year-old Halimah Saleh Hassan Abu Leil, who was talking with a neighbor at the time, and Ahmad Qusai ‘Issa Sarouji, a hairdresser with no known militia connections.
The Israeli army's official statement admitted unauthorized use of the ambulance, labeling it a 'violation of existing orders and procedures.' In addition to those killed, several were injured, including Hussein Jamal Abu Leil, a relative of the deceased woman, who underwent critical surgery after being shot.
The commander of the Israeli unit involved has been reprimanded, and further disciplinary action is expected as a consequence of this operation.
Legal experts and human rights advocates decry such actions as severe infringements on the principle of distinction, fundamental to international laws of armed conflict.
The incident occurs amidst escalating violence in the West Bank, compounded by the regional destabilization following the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 700 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since late 2023, amidst widespread detentions by Israeli forces.
This misuse of medical vehicles, typically protected under international law, underscores a worrying trend in military operations in the region, complicating peace efforts and further endangering civilians caught in the crossfire.
