According to a press release by Al- Wafa Hospital for Rehabilitation in Gaza, at about 11:45 pm on Wednesday 5 Feb, two apache helicopters fired bullets on the eastern part of the hospital. This incident was followed by a big explosion at the entrance of a nearby building, which is 70 meters away from the hospital. All medical staff rushed to look after the terrified patients.

At that time, Israeli snipers shot the two working nurses in the hospital, Abdel Karim Lubad and Omar Hassan. Israeli Tanks surrounded the hospital until 3:30 am, when the snipers could leave the area.

This crime is a clear violation of the international law, especially articles19, 20 of the fourth Geneva Convention, which abide the occupying power to respect the safety of the medical facilities and personnel. This war crime is and added violation of the Israeli army against the Palestinian people, specially that the hospital had flags with medical signs and the name of the hospital in Arabic and English.

Gaza Community Health Programme express the full condemnation to this crime of extra-judicial assassination and call upon all the local and international UN agencies and human rights organizations to denounce this act and pressure Israeli government to abide by the international law and refer those found guilty to trial.

Dr. Eyad El Sarraj

Chairman of the Board