Pages

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Proof that Hamas threatened ambulances

As the dust is clearing, we find that Israel's accusations against Hamas have been extraordinarily accurate.

Here's one more example(h/t Backspin on Twitter):
Mohammed Shriteh, 30, is an ambulance driver registered with and trained by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

His first day of work at the al-Quds neighbourhood was January 1, the sixth day of the war.

"Mostly the war was not as fast or as chaotic as I expected," Mr Shriteh told The Age. "We would co-ordinate with the Israelis before we pick up patients, because they have all our names and our IDs, so they would not shoot at us."

Mr Shriteh said the more immediate threat was from Hamas, who would lure the ambulances into the heart of a battle to transport fighters to safety. He claims Hamas made several attempts to hijack the al-Quds Hospital's fleet of ambulances during the war.

"After the first week, at night time, there was a call for a house in Jabaliya (a heavily built-up area north-east of Gaza City)," he said. "I got to the house and there was lots of shooting and explosions all around."

Because of the urgency of the call, Mr Shriteh said there was no time to arrange his movements with the Israel Defence Forces. "I knew the Israelis were watching me because I could see the red laser beam in the ambulance and on me, on my body," he said.

After getting out of the ambulance and entering the house, he found three Hamas fighters taking cover inside. One half of the building had already been destroyed.

"They were very scared, and very nervous … They dropped their weapons and ordered me to get them out, to put them in the ambulance and take them away. I refused because if the IDF sees me doing this I am finished, I cannot pick up any more wounded people.

"And then one of the fighters picked up a gun and held it to my head, to force me. I still refused, and then they allowed me to leave."

How many ambulance drivers weren't as brave?

Oh well, just another Hamas war crime.