UN: Israeli troops concentrated Gazans in one building before killing them

Date: 09 / 01 / 2009  Time:  15:27
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

The United Nations has collected witness testimony indicating that the Israeli terrorist forces shelled a house in which they had crowded 110 Palestinians a day earlier in the Zaytoon neighborhood of Gaza City.

In its weekly report on the protections of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said:

“From 3 to 7 January, the (Israeli terrorist forces) prevented medical teams from entering the area to evacuate the wounded. In of the one gravest incidents since the beginning of operations, according to several testimonies, on 4 January Israeli foot-soldiers evacuated approximately 110 Palestinians into a single-residence house in Zaytoon (half of whom were children), warning them to stay indoors.

“Twenty-four hours later, Israeli forces shelled the home repeatedly, killing approximately thirty. Those who survived and were able, walked two kilometers to Salahuddin road before being transported to the hospital in civilian vehicles.”

The witnesses also said three children, the youngest of whom was five months old, died upon arrival at the hospital.

Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on 27 December, the UN reports, 42% of the casualties were women (60) and children (257), citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The number of children fatalities has increased by 250% since the beginning of ground operation on 3 January.

ccun.org Editor's Note:

In fact, if we exclude the Palestinian policemen who were killed in their police stations in the first day of the Israeli terrorist attacks on Gaza Strip, then more than 90% of those who were killed are women and children.

Gaza paramedics say they need rescuing

Date: 09 / 01 / 2009  Time:  14:09
Gaza – Ma’an –

In a split second Red Crescent Medic Hassan Al-'Atal became one of the injured being rushed to hospital.

Hassan had rushed to the Zimu Square during the Israeli-declared three-hour ceasefire Wednesday so aid could be delivered to the hardest-hit areas of Gaza. His team had been sent out to pull bodies from the rubble shortly after the ceasefire was said to be in effect.

The medic is now in the Al-Quds Hospital in Tel Al-Hawa south of Gaza City. “I rushed to Zemu Square north of Gaza along with another volunteer with the Red Crescent,” recalled Hassan.

“We stepped out of the ambulance because the roads were such that the ambulance could not pass.” When Hassan and his partner reached the scene, along with a stretcher and medical supplies they began pulling the dead and injured from the bombed building.

“Just after w had gotten the first body on the stretcher,” he recalled, “we came under heavy fire.” Hassan was hit in his left leg and was evacuated by his colleague quickly back to the ambulance. They drove straight to the hospital, leaving the dead for another day.

“I never expected to be a target,” Hassan said, “we were in uniform and the ambulance has a large red crescent painted on the side.” He said he and his partner were sure they were going to be safe because they were heading out when Israel had called the ceasefire, and promised to allow aid into the area.

Hassan could not believe the incident took place, and demanded Israel respect the medic’s badge.

On the same day medic Marawan Hamuda was shot in the foot while driving an ambulance north in the Jabaliya area.

Hamouda was with the Red Cross, and had received a call to help move some seriously injured civilians from the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to Rafah crossing so they could receive treatment in Egypt.

The ambulance was stopped for two hours on the coastal road by the Israeli terrorist forces. The vehicle was finally allowed to pass. Travelling on roads outside the city center to best access the hospital quarter, the ambulance came under direct fire.

The ambulance had been okayed for humanitarian travel in the area, and was clearly marked with the ICRC insignia.