2023-12-11 14:46:00
Doctors Without Borders accuses the Israeli army of attacking an evacuation convoy marked in Gaza
The Doctors Without Borders logo is seen in Mérignac, France, in 2018. (Regis Duvignau/Archyde.com)
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the Israeli army of attacking a marked evacuation convoy in Gaza on November 18.
Two relatives of MSF staff members died; one was a volunteer nurse at Shifa Hospital, according to a MSF press release of December 1.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN that it recognizes the special protections afforded to medical teams under international humanitarian law and “takes measures to prevent harm to them.” The IDF also added that when attacking military targets, it takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian casualties.
MSF said its convoy which was “clearly identified as MSF vehicles” was attacked as it returned to its offices in Gaza City following the Israeli army did not allow it to cross the last checkpoint near Wadi Gaza to reach the south. Gaza, as the IDF urged people to go there.
MSF said it initially informed both parties in the conflict that it was heading south and followed the itinerary indicated by the Israeli army to travel along Salah Eddine Street in five marked vehicles.
“We were there for regarding three hours. She was getting dark. Hundreds of people were waiting and some of them decided to return north because the checkpoint would not let them pass,” an MSF staff member who was part of the convoy said in the statement.
After hearing gunshots, the convoy decided to return to its offices in Gaza City, according to the statement.
“We contacted Paul [un colega de MSF en Jerusalén] to inform him that we would be returning because we were not allowed to pass the checkpoint. “He said he would ask for permission to return,” the MSF staff member said.
The convoy was allegedly attacked near the MSF office as it returned in the late followingnoon, according to the statement.
“I saw tanks and snipers on top of buildings. I was terrified when I saw that the snipers and tanks were pointing their guns at us, especially at the fourth and fifth vans. [del convoy]”said a second MSF staff member present in the convoy. “They started opening fire on us and when a bullet grazed my forehead, I suffered a superficial wound. The bullet hit my colleague Alaa, who was sitting next to me, in the head.”
Alaa died as a result of the attack, the staff member said.
Separately, on November 20, while sheltering in the MSF offices, staff said they saw five MSF vehicles and its clinic in Gaza City allegedly damaged by an Israeli bulldozer and a heavy military vehicle, all identifiable by the MSF logo, according to the statement.
“Before being destroyed, these MSF vehicles were potential evidence for any independent investigation into the November 18 attack on the MSF convoy,” the statement said.
After the five MSF vehicles were destroyed, our teams in southern Gaza sent more vehicles to Gaza City to attempt an evacuation once more, according to the statement.
“However, they were also hit by bullets as they approached the MSF clinic and the evacuation was cancelled. On November 24, those vehicles were also destroyed by Israeli forces,” the statement said.
“Finally, our colleagues and their families were able to reach the south once the truce came into effect on the morning of November 24, thanks to the vehicles of other civilians who evacuated,” the statement said.
MSF requested an independent investigation and a formal explanation for the attack from the Israeli authorities, according to the statement.
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