Tuesday, March 19, 2002

Kofi Annan's Blunt Words Criticizing Israeli Tactics
I am especially dismayed by the I.D.F.'s failure to protect and respect ambulances and
medical personnel. In recent days, several medical relief workers were killed when
Israeli soldiers fired on clearly marked ambulances, including Mr. Kamal Hamdan, an
Unrwa (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) staff member. In addition, Israeli
forces repeatedly declined to grant medical personnel access to conflict areas to treat
and evacuate the wounded, despite formal protests from Unrwa and the International
Committee of the Red Cross.

I am also troubled by the repeated and, to the best of my knowledge, unfounded and
unsubstantiated allegations by Israeli government spokespersons that ambulances
have been used to smuggle Palestinian militants and weapons. These allegations can
only result in further damage to medical workers and further impede their vital mission.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/19/international/middleeast/19LTEX.html

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