|
|
| By: Israel Insider staff |
| Published: June 11, 2007 |
| |
Medics at Beit Hanoun hospital in a northern Gaza walked off their jobs for a few hours Saturday to protest the kidnapping and shooting of a doctor by Palestinian militants, the first physician targeted in infighting.
Dr. Fayez al-Barrawi, a known Hamas supporter, was blindfolded, handcuffed and shot six times in the legs, including a kneecap, and then tossed on the street Thursday. Hamas said Fatah militants were behind the kidnapping.
In recent months, hundreds of Hamas and Fatah supporters have been kidnapped by rival gunmen. Usually hostages are released after a few hours, often after being shot in the legs.
Although it was the first time a doctor was seized and kneecapped, militants routinely fire on paramedics and ambulances during gunbattles or when the mood strikes them.
"We strongly condemn that medical officials should be the victims of security chaos," hospital director Jamil Suleiman wrote in a statement faxed to The Associated Press.
Scores of doctors and medics later marched to the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, demanding that the attackers be brought to justice. But none of those involved in internal fighting have ever been put on trial. The idea is laughable and would inevitably lead to more shattered kneecaps, mangled legs, and handcuffed people bleeding to death in the city streets.
Typically, hospitals choose to treat either Hamas or Fatah victims, but not both, fearing that bloodbaths would break out within the medical facilities.
Militants find hospital rooftops and grounds to be hospitable vantage points for sniping, prompting rivals to fire upon them, threatening staff and patients.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
