Israeli Snipers Target and Kill Palestinian Medic Razan Al-Najjar in Gaza
On 1 June during ongoing protests by Palestinians in Gaza near the fence sealing off the enclave, Israeli snipers fired at Palestinian volunteer medic Razan Al-Najjar as she was aiding another injured protester, according to eyewitnesses. She was hit in the upper body and pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Razan Al-Najjar was a volunteer medic with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, a nongovernmental health organization, and had studied to be a professional paramedic. She was 21 years old and had been volunteering as a medic at the protests, known as the ‘Great Return March’ since they started over two months ago.
On 1 June during ongoing protests by Palestinians in Gaza near the fence sealing off the enclave, Israeli snipers fired at Palestinian volunteer medic Razan Al-Najjar as she was aiding another injured protester, according to eyewitnesses. She was hit in the upper body and pronounced dead shortly thereafter
Razan Al-Najjar was a volunteer medic with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, a nongovernmental health organization, and had studied to be a professional paramedic. She was 21 years old and had been volunteering as a medic at the protests, known as the ‘Great Return March’ since they started over two months ago.
On Friday, 1 June, Palestinian protesters resumed their weekly demonstrations along the fence separating Gaza from Israel. Israeli military forces, including hundreds of snipers, were deployed along the fence and opened fire – including tear gas and live fire – at the protesters, as they have done during each manifestation. Ms. Al-Najjar was attending to injured throughout the day, and rushed in to bandage a man injured by a tear gas canister. As with all medical volunteers with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, she was wearing a white lab coat and vest indicating her status as a medical volunteer – something clearly identified in pictures taken of her both before she was shot and when she was taken to ambulance.
Medical volunteers, doctors, journalists and other activists have all been targeted by Israeli snipers during the protests marking the ‘Great Return March’, in clear violation of international law. On Monday, 14 May, Canadian doctor Tarek Loubani, who was volunteering in Gaza, was shot in the legs while attending to injured at the protests. The medic who attended to him, Musa Abuhassanin, was shot and killed later the same day. All medics who have been targeted by Israeli snipers have been clearly marked by their vests and medical attire.
Front Line Defenders condemns the targeted killing of Razan Al-Najjar and the ongoing use of lethal force by the Israeli military against unarmed protesters in Gaza. Front Line Defenders supports the UN Human Rights Council’s decision to establish an independent inquiry into Israel’s use of force against the protests and the UN Secretary-General’s call for the UN Security Council to establish an independent investigation.
