During this reporting period, the Israeli Army has continued to violate International Humanitarian Law and Fundamental Human Rights, by restricting freedom of movement to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams. Denial of access and arbitrary searches had a negative impact on the sick and wounded in Qalqiliya and the Gaza Strip.

Gaza Strip, 22/01/2005 (07:10AM): A PRCS ambulance was stopped and denied access at Al Tuffah checkpoint, while on route to transport a woman in labor to a local Palestinian hospital. The woman was experiencing labor complications. The crew tried to explain to the soldiers the urgency to reach the hospital, but the soldiers ignored their request. After 35 minutes had elapsed, the woman delivered her baby in the ambulance. The crew was obliged to return back after coordination efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to allow them to pass had failed.

Qalqiliya, 26/01/2005 (15:30PM): A PRCS ambulance was subjected to direct Israeli Army gunfire while on route to evacuate injured person in Kufr Saba, Qalqiliya. Due to the extensive gunfire, the crew was obliged to return back to safety. Fortunately no injuries or damage to the ambulance was reported.

The following table lists incidents of denial of access during this reporting period.

PRCS Branch	Date	Checkpoint	Delay of access (unless indicated 'denied access')
Qalqiliya	26/01/2005	Kufr Saba area	35 minutes & denied access

During this reporting period, a total of 7 deaths and 10 injuries were reported in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

These practices constitute a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva conventions, which are legally applied to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In particular, they violate articles 20 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which guarantees the protection and respect of persons who engage in the search for, removal and transport of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, and article 63 which stresses that ” Subject to temporary and exceptional measures imposed for urgent reasons of security by the Occupied Power, recognized National red cross and red crescent societies shall be able to pursue their activities in accordance with Red Cross principles, as defined by the international Red Cross Conferences…”. In addition to articles 12 and 15 of the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva conventions which guarantees that “ Medical units shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the object of attack and shall have access to any place where their services are essential” and article 16 which stresses that, “Under no circumstances shall any person be punished for carrying out medical activities compatible with medical ethics, regardless of the person benefiting there from.”, in addition to article 21, which stresses that,” Medical vehicles shall be respected and protected in the same way as mobile medical units under the Conventions and this Protocol.”