Palestinian medics in the West Bank have become Israel’s targets
An Israeli military vehicle blocks Palestinian ambulances in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on 22 January 2025
Raed Yassin writes in The New Arab on 27 January 2025:
In war zones, much of the attention falls on soldiers, bombs, and political agendas. Often overlooked are the paramedics, who are referred to as the “silent heroes” who dedicate their lives to saving others. For over 24 years, I have served as a medic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the West Bank. My story, however, is not unique. It mirrors the experiences of countless medical personnel who risk their lives daily to protect the most vulnerable.
I chose to become a healthcare worker to save lives. But being a medic goes beyond care. Through the years, I have witnessed unimaginable atrocities committed by Israeli forces, but the war on Gaza changed the way we operate and added layers of danger to an already perilous job. Certainly, in the early days of my career, we faced challenges, but now Israeli forces have escalated their violations to terrifying levels.
We no longer feel like healthcare providers performing a life-saving role; we feel like targets.
Israeli forces no longer view us as neutral humanitarians. Ambulances are seen as threats, and when soldiers see our vehicles, they attack us, force us out of the ambulance, and subject us to humiliating searches. They search our personal belongings, and often force us to strip down for inspection—all while a patient inside the ambulance is urgently waiting to reach the hospital for critical treatment, where every second counts.
At times, the ambulance is shot at and we are prevented from reaching patients.