Palestine Red Crescent Society announces reactivation of ambulance, emergency services in Gaza after 4-month Pause

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced today the reactivation of ambulance and emergency services in Gaza City, which has been suspended for four months after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had targeted its last vehicle.

PRCS explained that its crews were able to bring five ambulances from the southern Gaza Strip to the Gaza Governorate, through coordination from the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

PRCS also pointed out that since two of its crew members were murdered during their humanitarian mission to rescue a Palestinian child four months ago, it has no longer operated vehicles in Gaza City.

Article 24 of the First Geneva Convention stipulates that medical personnel who search for, collect, transport or treat the wounded and sick must be respected and protected in all circumstances, while Article 11 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention also stipulates that medical transport must be respected and protected at all times, and that it must not be subjected to attacks.