Our condemnation is reinforced by the knowledge that the soldiers
refused to allow an ambulance called to evacuate Iain to travel the last few
yards needed to reach him. Instead, UN staff here forced to seek an
alternative route to rescue him. This caused a delay and made sure that the work
done by a bullet was completed by the Israeli army's refusal to respect
the most elementary standards of humanity.

The shock of that day's events does not come in isolation. For two
years, United Nations staff have been subject to escalating harassment and
violence by Israel's military, so that the protection supposed to be
afforded by the blue letters of the UN is being steadily eroded.

UN staff - international and Palestinian alike - have been verbally
abused, stripped, beaten, shot at and killed by Israeli soldiers. There has
been armed interference with UN employees and vehicles, including attacks on
UN ambulances and medical personnel. UNRWA schools, health clinics and
offices have been hit by bombs, rockets, tank shells and gunfire even
during daytime, thereby endangering the lives of staff and, in the case of
schools, the lives of refugee children. Buildings occupied by UN staff
have been repeatedly damaged during Israeli airforce bombing.