Volunteers Arrested for Smuggling Palestinians in Ambulance at Jerusalem Checkpoint
Two medical volunteers from United Hatzalah were arrested on Sunday for attempting to smuggle Palestinians into Israel using a private ambulance. The incident unfolded at the Ofer Checkpoint outside Jerusalem, where Israel Border Police intercepted the ambulance after being tipped off by a witness who saw the suspects boarding at a location in the West Bank.
The driver and his assistant, both dressed as medical personnel, claimed they were responding to a lifesaving event and initially resisted routine checks by avoiding presenting ID cards and requesting not to be searched. This aroused the suspicion of the officers, who, upon inspection, found eight Palestinians hiding inside the ambulance. Some of these individuals were reportedly former prisoners.
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The volunteers, along with the eight Palestinians, were arrested and are currently undergoing further questioning by the Border Police and Shin Bet security agency. Following the incident, the ambulance driver, a Jerusalem resident, was immediately terminated by his employer, Hadera Ambulance Company. Hadera expressed shock over the incident, noting that the driver had been rehired based on positive recommendations and a certificate of integrity despite previous disciplinary issues.
Israeli Health Minister Uriel Buso called for the revocation of both the driver’s and the company’s licenses in response to the incident. Meanwhile, United Hatzalah criticized the lack of regulatory oversight in issuing certifications for emergency medical services.
