PHR calls for a neutral, independent investigation into Israeli terrorist army violations in Gaza, says army violated ethics codes

Israeli medical group: Army violated ethics codes

Date: 23 / 03 / 2009  Time:  12:40
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

An Israeli human rights organization said on Monday that the country’s military violated medical ethics codes during its Gaza assault that began in late December.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR) described the alleged incidents that "reveal that not only did the (military) not evacuate besieged and wounded families, it also prevented Palestinian (medical) teams from reaching the wounded."

The group’s report comes amid accusations by other human rights group and Palestinians that Israel had committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

PHR had filed a petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice a day after the assault on Gaza ended, 19 January, but it was dismissed.

"At the conclusion of the fighting, the claims were investigated by the (military) in a thorough manner, as were many other issues, in the framework of an expert investigation," the military said in a statement.

"The findings ... have not yet been concluded. When they have been finalized, (they) will be presented to the public."

PHR took testimonies from a number of officials, including some affiliated with the World Health Organization, demonstrating that 16 medics were killed by Israeli fire and 25 were wounded.

Israel attacked 34 medical facilities, including eight hospitals, according to the group.

PHR also described incidents in which Israeli forces "did not allow the evacuation of injured civilians who were besieged for days at a time and left the civilians without food or water for considerable periods."

PHR calls for a neutral, independent investigation into Israeli violations in Gaza

Monday March 23, 2009 10:31 by IMEMC News

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) –

 Israel have demanded an independent, unbiased international investigation into the Israeli violations to human rights in the Gaza Strip, especially violations against  patients, the wounded and medical teams.

The PHR reported several cases of attacks against medical teams and medical centers in Gaza, and added that the attacks were not isolated incidents but recurring issues.

The report also referred to the harsh conditions in Gaza, especially the challenges and difficulties hospitals and medical facilities face due to the strict siege.

It also detailed the damage inflicted by Israeli shelling of medical centers.

During the latest war on Gaza, Israeli soldiers barred the evacuation of wounded residents for several days, leaving them without food or water.

Investigations conducted by the PHR revealed that Israeli soldiers barred medics, including Red Cross, AMNEESTY and UNRWA personnel from reaching injured residents while the army in many cases prevented receipt of first aid to wounded Palestinians, which led to of a number of deaths.

The PHR said that the army did not evacuate wounded families, also preventing Palestinian medics from reaching the wounded.

According to the report, soldiers killed 16 medics and injured 25, in addition to shelling 34 medical centers, including hospitals and 26 first aid clinics.

The PHR said that these attacks violate the international law as humanitarian laws bar harming civilians and attacking medical facilities and medical personnel.  

The group also said that the Israel army claimed that it would investigate the violations, and added that it is unlikely that the army is serious or ready to conduct the promised investigations.

The PHR stated that the soldiers acted in complete disregard to the Palestinian lives in the Gaza Strip, and called for an investigation by an unbiased international group instead of having the Israeli army investigate violations carried out by its own soldiers.

Also, the PHR report indicated that the violations were not isolated incidents, but a series of attacks and abuses.

The Israeli army said that the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition by the PHR filed on January 19; one day after Israel ended its 22-day offensive.  The army stated that the reports were still under investigation.

The army still claims it has no conclusive findings, and that when such findings are ready they would be presented to the public.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported that Israel killed during the offensive 1434 Palestinians; 960 civilians, 239 policemen, and 235 fighters.  On the Israeli side, thirteen Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed.