The Palestine Red Crescent Society was founded in 1968, by Fathi Arafat, Yassar Arafat's brother.[1] It is a humanitarian organization that part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It provides hospitals, emergency medicine and ambulance services, and primary health care centers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its headquarters is based in Ramallah, near Jerusalem. They are observer memebrs of the International Falcon Movement - Socialist Education International
The PRCS was officially recognized by the ICRC and IFRC in June 2006, in a move that also recognized the Israeli Magen David Adom and the politically-neutral Red Crystal symbol.
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The PRCS provides the lion's share of ambulance services as providing emergency medical and relief services to Palestinians as mandated in 1996 by then PLO leader Yasser Arafat. Ambulance services are provided by 41 stations and substations, 22 mobile field posts, 122 ambulances, 346 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and over 500 volunteers.
1996 also saw the foundation of the Emergency Medical Institute, which trains staff and EMTs in accordance with international standards. Furthermore, the PRCS has been instrumental in the establishment of the national emergency number (101).[2]
Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has created some special issues for service delivery:
According to Israeli sources, there have been numerous incidents in which Palestinian ambulances have been found transporting bombs, missiles, or terrorists disguised as patients.[3][4][5] As such, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has a policy of stopping to inspect all Palestinian ambulances at roadblocks, regardless of the seriousness of the patient's condition.
According to the PRCS, Israeli Defence Force personnel on the ground and in aircraft have deliberately targeted Palestinian ambulances, and prevented or impeded them from carrying out their duties in violation of international humanitarian law.[6] In 2003, for example, the PRCS reported that seven staff members were injured and 12 ambulances were damaged in attacks by Israeli settlers and the IDF, and PRCS ambulances were denied or delayed access to areas on 584 different occasions.[7]
During the 2008–2009 Gaza War, Amnesty International rejected charges by Israel that Hamas had systematically used medical facilities, vehicles and uniforms as a cover, stating that no evidence had been provided proving such actions.[8] Further, Magen David Adom's submission to UN Mission investigating the war stated that, "there was no use of PRCS ambulances for the transport of weapons or ammunition ... [and] there was no misuse of the emblem by PRCS."[9]
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