yidele
28.03.02, 11:46
Apprehension of Ambulance Harboring a Wanted Terrorist and Weapons at a
Checkpoint Near Ramallah
Today, 27 March 2002, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Isalam Jibril, a Tanzim
activist, born in 1971 and resident of the Balata Refugee Camp, was arrested at
an IDF roadblock near Ramallah. He was arrested while working as the driver of
a Red Crescent ambulance. An explosive belt and other explosive charges were
seized from the ambulance. The ambulance driver admitted that these were given
to him in Nablus by Mahmud Titi- one of the senior Tanzim activists in Samaria,
who is recognized with the organization's leaders, including Marwan Barghouti -
in order to transfer them to Tanzim operatives in Ramallah.
In addition to the wanted terrorist in the ambulance, an additional man, woman
and three children aged 6 months, three-years and four-years old were present
in the ambulance. The explosive belt was made of 16 pipes that were comprised
of 10 kilograms of explosive materials. The belt was concealed under the
mattress of the gurney upon which one of the children laid.
It is important to clarify that this is not the first time in which an
ambulance has been used for the transfer of terrorists and weapons, and that
workers of the Palestinian Red Crescent have been sent on missions of terrorist
organizations. For example, Faah Aydris, a worker for the Palestinian Red
Crescent who perpetrated a suicide bombing on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, last
January.
The organizations operate on a basis that ambulances and medical crews are not
being checked and examined thoroughly in IDF checkpoints, and are cynically
exploiting the instructions given to soldiers with an emphasis on their
behavior towards a civilian population the ill and children.
The seizure of the explosive charges in the ambulance provides evidence of the
continuation of the Tanzim activity to initiate a massive killing attack even
when negotiating a cease fire, as well as their determination to take advantage
of every alleged "breakthrough" in the IDF's preparations to thwart terror
attacks, even if it is made out of clear humanitarian motives. All that in
order to continue to attack even with risk to lives of children, the ill and
Palestinian medical personnel.
The event also supports the need of IDF soldiers to continue to closely check
Palestinian ambulances that pass through checkpoints. The Palestinian Authority
frequently complains to the media and to international bodies, but if it only
ordered its people to cease its cynical use of ambulances for the use of
terror. Ambulances that should be using their capability to contribute to the
well being of the Palestinian public.