Israeli forces raid West Bank hospital, injure pregnant Palestinian woman, paramedic

Israeli forces stormed the courtyards of the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, firing teargas canisters and rubber bullets at random, according to local reports.

One pregnant Palestinian woman was hit by a rubber bullet on her shoulder, while a paramedic was hit in the arm, WAFA news agency reported.

Others were left choking from gas inhalation, while some patients were terrified and shocked by the assault, which local reports say occurred at 4:30 am. 

An ambulance also sustained partial damage from Israeli fire, according to images of the vehicle which circulated online. 

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Alkaila condemned the attack, saying it posed a great threat to patients, particularly to mothers and their children as well as to Covid-19 patients whose lungs were already fragile.

She described the attack as a grave breach of the sanctity of a hospital, urging the international community to hold Israel to account for breaking international humanitarian law.

Alkaila also pointed out the incident was the second attack by Israeli forces on hospitals in Palestinian territories, after Israeli warplanes bombarded the Gaza Strip early on Saturday, damaging a children's hospital in the enclave.

Israeli forces raid Palestinian houses across the occupied West Bank on an almost daily basis, under the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians. Often, children are detained during these raids.

Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally since 1967, and commits various abuses against Palestinian civilians, human rights groups say.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected