Bullet Types in
Use by the Israeli Army - PRCS Report
March 12, 2001
(Article by Mr. Mohamed Awad, PRCS EMS
Paramedic)
The weeklong clashes between Israeli
soldiers and Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank and Gaza resulted in
deaths and many injuries to Palestinian citizens. In treating these cases, the
Emergency Medical teams had to deal with a number and new types of ammunition
being used by the Israeli army.
In addition to injuries sustained by the rubber bullet (i.e. cylindrical metal
coated in rubber), EMS medical staff treated patients who sustained injuries
from the following types of ammunition:
Non-coated Metal Balls: These balls easily
penetrate the limb or body cavity. These bullets are not coated with any rubber
or plastic, but are not considered “live ammunition” because using a live
bullet in the weapon to dispense the metal ball from the gun reduces the
velocity of the bullet. While the velocity of the bullet is reduced somewhat; it
is larger than what is generally used by the soldiers for live ammunitions. The
size of the metal balls can therefore affected a wider surface area damaging
more muscles and organs. A number of the fatalities in the weeklong clashes were
due to the use of this bullet.
Needle Bullet: This type of bullet is
sensitive to body temperature, exploding just before they enter the body as the
outside heat of the body triggers them. These small multi-fragments enter the
body and are not easily located. In addition, once located they are difficult to
remove as these are slippery and tiny and when stretching the skin or muscle to
remove, they disappear deeper into the body making it more difficult to remove.
EMS medical personnel reported that they were unable to remove all the fragments
from cases with needle bullet injuries.
Live Ammunition (micro): These are small
bullets dispensed at high velocity, so the injured may not be aware immediately
that they have sustained an injury as they would with a regular bullet. The
injury is felt when person attempts to move or walk. These bullets also can
penetrate the bone area. Lightweight and its shape facilities its movement under
the skin or muscle, and the more it moves the more it damages the capillaries
resulting in heamatoma.
Types
of Weapons & Injurious Agent
Palestine Affairs Council