Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has published the findings of its investigation into the killing by Israeli snipers of a Palestinian paramedic on 10 August, as the NGO continues its documentation of the repression of “Great March of Return” protests

On Friday 10 August, demonstrations took place close to the perimeter fence of the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, as they have done since 30 March.

In one protest east of Rafah, Israeli forces killed three local residents with live ammunition: Ahmad Abu Luli, 30, who was shot in the hip; ‘Abdallah Qutati, 22, a paramedic who was shot in the chest; and ‘Ali Al-‘Alul, 54, who was also shot in the chest.

According to eyewitnesses interviewed by B’Tselem, Qutati was working with other paramedics close to the perimeter fence when he was struck. As Qutati was evacuated, Israeli soldiers continued to shoot, so that those carrying him “literally ran to the ambulance under a hail of bullets”.

Raed Al-Sharif, 19, a paramedic who was standing next to Qutati when he was shot, said:

``My colleagues and I come to the area close to the eastern border of Gaza as volunteer paramedics. Why does the Israeli army harm us? We’re there in white uniforms, with the Ministry of Health emblem and identity tags. It’s clear that we aren’t endangering the army. All I have in my hands is first aid equipment. We’re there to help the wounded and nothing else.``

Qutati was the third paramedic to be killed by Israeli occupation forces during the demonstrations, after the fatal shootings of Musa Abu Hasanein and Razan Al-Najjar.

 

Source:  Middle East Monitor