Israeli army attacks Nablus hospitals

Monday February 26, 2007 15:59 by Polly Bangoriad - IMEMC

Israeli forces attacked a field-hospital in the old city of Nablus, forced doctors and health workers outside, and searched and destroyed medical equipment on Monday afternoon.

Israeli forces attacked a field-hospital in the old city of Nablus, forced doctors and health workers outside and searched and destroyed medical equipment on Monday afternoon.

 In a phone call with IMEMC, an eyewitness in the old city of Nablus said that soldiers are shooting at medical teams and civilians who are trying to move injured people and those who need medical care to the hospitals. He added that a doctor and three paramedics have been detained by the Israeli army in the old city.  

In the meantime, Palestinian media sources in Nablus reported that army tanks have surrounded public and private hospitals in the city and are not allowing anyone to move in or out of these hospitals.  

Medical sources in the city expressed fear that medical teams would not be able to fetch patients or deliver them back to their homes because of the imposed siege.  

This act of collective punishment by the Israeli military marks the first major West Bank project to be ochestrated by the new Israeli army chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi.  

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