Dr. Hassanain: Israel used weapons melting human bodies

[ 17/01/2009 - 05:05 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Dr. Mu'awiya Hassansin, the director of ambulance and emergency in the health ministry, revealed that the IOF troops used weapons against civilians never seen before which melt human bodies down to the bone.

Dr. Hassanain told the PIC that the medical staff found in one of the apartments in the Karama tower three melted bodies which turned into skeletons the thing which proves that Israel used internationally banned bombs during its attacks on the building.

The health official added that it had been found in bombed apartments and towers in the Tel Al-Islam a white chemical powder which causes lethal side effects, noting that there are many Palestinians in hospitals with their limbs melted in addition to seven citizens who died of serious burns in their bodies.

In another press statement to the PIC, the health official said that the death toll of the Israeli aggression which entered its 22nd day rose to 1,200 Palestinians, half of them were children and women, while the injuries soared to 5,300.

He added that the death toll included 410 children and 108 women, while the injuries included 400 serious cases.

HRW: IOF violating laws of war

[ 17/01/2009 - 04:07 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Human rights Watch organization has said that the Israeli occupation forces' use of heavy artillery in heavily populated areas in Gaza city was in violation of the international ban on indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas.

It said in a statement on Friday, "A Human Rights Watch researcher on the Israel-Gaza border on January 15, 2009, observed Israel's repeated use in the center of Gaza City of 155mm artillery shells, which inflict blast and fragmentation damage up to 300 meters away". "Firing 155mm shells into the center of Gaza City, whatever the target, will likely cause horrific civilian casualties," said Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at Human Rights Watch. "By using this weapon in such circumstances, Israel is committing indiscriminate attacks in violation of the laws of war." Meanwhile, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs has disclosed that the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip were facing difficulty in obtaining their food needs.

The office in a statement said that farmers were also finding difficulty in reaching their farms while citizens could not walk safely to commercial shops.

For its part, UNICEF said that around 840000 children in the Strip were subjugated to severe pressures and are suffering from shock. It added that the children would need a long period of psychological treatment to get over the effects of war and violence.

1000 tons of explosives and white phosphorus dropped on Gaza in 22 days

[ 17/01/2009 - 02:49 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Israeli 10th TV channel has disclosed that the Israeli occupation forces had used half of the air force and launched at least 2500 air raids over the past three weeks of attacks on Gaza Strip.

The TV military correspondent said on Saturday that the Israeli warplanes had dropped more than a thousand tons of explosives in that period.

He reported that the shells fired by artillery, tanks, infantry and gunboats were not included in those fired by the air force.

The intensive Israeli air, sea and land shelling had targeted civilian neighborhoods, mosques and security buildings other than UNRWA offices and warehouses and killed 1200 citizens so far other than 5400 wounded.

WHO deplores the shelling of hospitals in Gaza

[ 17/01/2009 - 11:19 AM ]

GENEVA, (PIC)--

The World Health Organization in a statement on Friday deplored the Israeli attack on Al-Wafa and Al-Fata hospitals, and the Al-Quds hospital, which is run by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

"WHO expresses deep concern about the serious implications on patients, medical staff, health infrastructure and the provision of critical health services", the statement added.

The statement then said, "WHO calls for the discontinuation of the current violence, the removal of the blockade for the safe passage of patients, health personnel, food, fuel and medicines, and the respect of the inviolability of the health facilities in conflict zones".

It noted that up to Friday 16 health facilities and 16 ambulances have been damaged or destroyed since 27 December.

"Al-Quds Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Hospital in south Gaza City remained closed 16 January after being hit by Israeli fire a day earlier. 40 patients who were evacuated have been brought to Shifa Hospital. About 200 people who had been seeking refuge in Al-Quds Hospital were evacuated to an UNRWA shelter. The attack destroyed the hospital's pharmacy and administrative buildings. The emergency and ambulance station was also destroyed. The hospital's roof, top floor and a corridor all suffered damage" the international organization underlined.

The WHO report also pointed out, "At Al-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in east Gaza City, staff continues to provide health care despite the facility being damaged on 15 January in a separate attack. Damaged was sustained to the eastern wall of the Geriatric building, which was housing 20 patients at the time of the attack. They remain in the building. The rehabilitation building was not directly hit. The hospital's 52 beds are all occupied, eight by patients on life-support machines. Many patients in the centre are quadriplegics who have suffered a harrowing experience over the last 24 hours".