Ref: 17/2020

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns Palestinian citizens’ assault on a physician and an administrative assistant at Gaza European Hospital and the destruction of some hospital equipment. PCHR calls upon the Public Prosecution to open a serious investigation into the assault and to bring perpetrators to justice.

According to PCHR investigations, at approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 14 March 2020, a group arrived at the Emergency Room at Gaza European Hospital, then proceeded to verbally and physically assault a physician and an administrative assistant while inside the hospital and damaged a computer and some medical equipment. This attack was motivated by the death of A.A (78) who was at the hospital the day before.

The hospital’s crew stated that a number of the deceased’s family arrived at the ER and started pushing and yelling at attending physician, Dr. Alaa Abulreesh and administrative assistant, Ahmed Abou Mousa. They flipped the medical disposables table and broke the counter at the Department of Internal Medicine, inciting fear among the crew and patients at the all-female patients’ ward. Hospital security arrived at the scene, as well as a police patrol, and arrested 5 members of the deceased’s family and took them to Ma’en Detention Centre. A number of complaints were submitted with the police by Dr. Alaa’ Abulreesh, Ahmed Abu Mousa, administrative supervisor and nurses.

PCHR strongly condemns the assault, which falls under assault on the rule of law in the oPt, and reiterates its call for the Public Prosecution to conduct a serious investigation and bring perpetrators to justice. Additionally, PCHR expresses its concern over the recurrent attacks on medical crews and hospitals in the past period.