from Ministry of Health – Gaza Strip

Press conference held by the Ministry of Health 16/10/23

Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Ashraf Aqudra:

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip destroyed large residential neighborhoods and killed entire Palestinian families.

The Israeli government and its army are committing ethnic cleansing and must be stopped immediately.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the number of victims who have been reached hospitals only, which so far has reached 2,778 killed and 9,938 injured.

Israeli forces have killed 371 families.

Authorities have registered about 1,200 reports of missing people under the rubble of houses, including about 500 reports of missing children, and we hope that some of them are still alive

We call on the international community to urgently intervene to send the medical relief teams and equipment to help clear the massive rubble and save the lives that can be saved.

Deputy General Director of Primary Care for Public Health Dr. Rami Al-abadle: we fear the emergence of serious epidemics due to the repercussions of the escalating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

More details via the link:
https://wp.me/paCNSd-A0v

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Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Ashraf Aqudra:

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip destroyed large residential neighborhoods and killed entire Palestinian families.
The Israeli government and its army are committing ethnic cleansing and must be stopped immediately.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the number of victims who have been reached hospitals only, which so far has reached 2,778 killed and 9,938 injured.
Israeli forces have killed 371 families.
Authorities have registered about 1,200 reports of missing people under the rubble of houses, including about 500 reports of missing children, and we hope that some of them are still alive
We call on the international community to urgently intervene to send the medical relief teams and equipment to help clear the massive rubble and save the lives that can be saved.
Deputy General Director of Primary Care for Public Health Dr. Rami Al-abadle: we fear the emergence of serious epidemics due to the repercussions of the escalating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
More details via the link:
[17/10, 01:10] paola: Ministry of Health-Gaza Strip
Photos to demonstrate the medical staff efforts in the emergency department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex while treating injuries, most of which were children, after Israeli airstrikes in midnight on Gaza City.
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Urgent Action: Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Call on Third States to Urgently Intervene to Protect the Palestinian People Against Genocide

13، Oct 2023

Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) call on Third States to urgently intervene to protect the Palestinian people against genocide. Between Saturday 7 October and 13 October at 10:00 p.m., the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the killing of at least 1,900 Palestinians and the injury of 7,699 in Gaza. Tonight, Israel has closed bypass roads throughout the West Bank. Since Saturday 7 October violent attacks have escalated across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the Israeli military and settlers killing 51 Palestinians, including 16 killed today, and injuring more than 950. The situation has drastically deteriorated, with Israel ordering the evacuation of 1.1 million Palestinians from the densely populated northern Gaza towards the south of the Strip. The forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza was preceded by genocidal statements by senior Israeli political and military figures in the previous days.

On 9 October 2023, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Minister of Defense, stated: “We are imposing a complete siege on [Gaza]. No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel – everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly”. This was followed by the Coordinator of the Government in the Territories (COGAT) Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian announced that, “Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, no electricity, no water, just damage. You wanted hell, you will get hell”. Israel Katz, Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, warned, “For years we supplied Gaza with electricity, water and fuel. Instead of saying thank you, they sent thousands of human animals to slaughter, murder, rape and kidnap babies, women and the elderly – that’s why we decided to stop the flow of water, electricity and fuel and now their local power station has collapsed and there is no electricity in Gaza.”

Our organisations warn that the cutting off of water, electricity, and internet in Gaza, and the denial of entry of humanitarian convoys of food, medicine, and other supplies necessary for the survival of the population through the Rafah crossing are all evidence that Israel is taking steps to act on its inciteful genocidal statements. Genocide means any of the following enumerated acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, such as (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. It is clear that Israel is deliberately inflicting on the Palestinian people conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

It is now incumbent on the international community to intervene to prevent an impending genocide. The International Court of Justice has clarified that “a State’s obligation to prevent, and the corresponding duty to act, arise at the instant that the State learns of, or should normally have learned of, the existence of a serious risk that genocide will be committed. From that moment onwards, if the State has available to it means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide, or reasonably suspected of harbouring specific intent (dolus specialis), it is under a duty to make such use of these means as the circumstances permit”.[1]

Third States not only have an obligation to intervene to protect the Palestinian population against genocide, Third State responsibility is “incurred if the State manifestly failed to take all measures to prevent genocide which were within its power, and which might have contributed to preventing the genocide”.[2] It should further be noted, that a previous warning was issued against Israel by the Special Advisers of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, and on the Responsibility to Protect, in July 2014, in response to Israel’s conduct against the protected Palestinian population. The Special Advisors warned then, that they were “disturbed by the flagrant use of hate speech in the social media, particularly against the Palestinian population”. The Special Advisers noted that individual Israelis had disseminated messages that could be dehumanising to the Palestinians and had called for the killing of members of this group. The Advisers reasserted that incitement to commit atrocity crimes is prohibited under international law.

In light of the above, we urge Third States to cooperate towards ending the situation arising from Israel’s continued incitement to commit acts of genocide in breach of peremptory norms of international law. Third State’s obligations include the obligation to refrain from assisting in maintaining such an illegal situation and to cooperate to bring the illegal conduct to an end. Genocide is the most heinous crime in the international legal order, at the apex of the hierarchy of crimes. Third States must comply with international law. Third States must immediately act to prevent acts of genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people.

 

 

[1] Case Concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2007, para 431.

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Ospedali, operatori sanitari e neonati Smettetela di usare i bambini come strumenti di guerra.Hospitals, health providers and newborns Stop using babies into tools of war

 ITALIANO

domenica15-10-23

quattro ospedali e la clinica oculistica chiusi (ospedale pediatrico di Al Durra) o sottoposti a ordine di sfollamento forzato (Al Awda, Al Aqsa o ospedale arabo bombardato direttamente).

Più di 20 membri del personale medico sono stati uccisi in servizio più almeno 2 mentre erano a casa.

Sono state colpite più di 25 ambulanze.

Sono previsti max 2 giorni di carburante per le sale operatorie degli ospedali ancora operativi.

Una domanda importante riguarda l’ospedale Al Shifa, che è la principale struttura sanitaria e anche traumatologica e si trova nell’area che Israele vuole che sia evacuata.

Nella stessa zona si trovano anche l’ospedale pediatrico Naser e l’ospedale pediatrico specialistico Rantissi, che ospitano anche l’unico centro dialisi pediatrico di Gaza con circa 40 bambini. Questi ultimi, come molti nei reparti specialistici e pediatrici, sono bambini che necessitano di cure salvavita e spesso dell’aiuto di apparecchiature specifiche.

Lo Shifa possiede la più grande unità di terapia intensiva infantile (NICU), già colpita dai bombardamenti 4 giorni fa (comunicazione personale del direttore della terapia intensiva neonatale, dottor Abed).

Una terapia intensiva neonatale più piccola si trova presso l’ospedale pediatrico Nasser, anch’esso nell’area di sfollamento forzato.

Quale sarà il destino dei circa 200 neonati bisognosi di cure salvavita?

Si tratta di neonati attaccati alle macchine e in apposite culle termoregolate.

Come se la caverebbero se questi ospedali non avessero più elettricità a disposizione?

Come dovrebbero essere trasferiti altrove e dove?

L’unica altra struttura di terapia intensiva neonatale si trova nell’ospedale di Rafah, Al Taheer, ma è un servizio piccolo e non ha assolutamente gli strumenti per prendersi cura di tutti questi trasferimenti, anche supponendo che possano essere effettuati senza perdite di vite umane nel processo.

Questa è una vera emergenza ed è la condanna a rischiare la morte per centinaia tra i neonati e i bambini più fragili.

In che modo questa realtà è paragonabile alla falsa affermazione di 40 bambini decapitati, sfatata e ritirata e non confermata dall’IDF (forze armate israeliane)?

Paola Manduca, Presidente NWRG (New Weapons Research Group) odv, Genova

ENGLISH

AS OF TODAY, sunday
4 hospitals and the eye clinic shut down (al Durra children hospital) or under order
of forced displacement (Al Awda, Al Aqsa or direct bombed Arab hospital).
More than 20 medical staff was killed in service plus at least 2 when  at home.
More than 25 ambulances were hit.
There is max 2 days of fuel for operating rooms in the hospitals still operative.
A big mark question is about al Shifa hospital, which is the major health and also
trauma facility and is located in the area that Israeli wants to be evacuated.
In the same area are also the Naser pediatric hospital and Rantissi specialistic
pediatric hospital, also hosting the only pediatric dialysis center in Gaza with about
40 children. These last, as well many in the specialistic wards and pediatric wards are
children that need life saving care and often machinery help.
Shifa has the biggest  intensive care unit for babies (NICU), already touched by
bombing 4 days ago (personal communication  from the NICU director dr Abed).
A smaller NICU is at Nasser pediatric hospital, also in the area of forced
displacement.
What will be the fate of the about 200 newborn babies in need of lifesaving care?
These are babies  attached to machines and in special thermoregulated cribs.
How would they fare when no more electricity is available to these Hospitals?
How should they be transferred elsewhere and where?
The only other Intensive neonatal care facility is in Rafah al Taheer hospital, but is a
small service and absolutely does not have the tools for caring for all these transfers,
also assuming they can be done without loss of life in the process.
This is a real emergency and it is the condemnation to risk death for hundreds of the
most fragile newborns and children.
How this reality is comparable with the falsified claim of 40 beheaded babies,
debunked and retreated and not confirmed by IDF?
Paola Manduca, President NWRG (New Weapons Research Group), Italy

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White phosphorus again used over Gaza and on Lebanon, what it means for long term people’s health?

Munizioni al fosforo bianco nuovamente utilizzato su Gaza e in Libano, cosa significa per la salute delle persone a lungo termine?

L’uso di munizioni al fosforo bianco sulle popolazioni civili è un crimine di guerra, e ha sicuramente pesanti conseguenze sanitarie per chi viene direttamente colpito, ma queste non sono le uniche conseguenze.

Le munizioni al fosforo bianco (WP) sono state utilizzate in precedenza da Israele in Libano nel 2006 e a Gaza nel 2008-2009. Human Right Watch (HRW) sta pubblicando prove del suo utilizzo negli attacchi in corso a Gaza (https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/12/israel-white-fosforus-used-gaza-lebanon), documentazione sostenuta da Amnesty International.

Le munizioni WP rappresentano un modo insidioso per diffondere metalli stabili nell’ambiente, tossici e genotossici, rilasciandoli in aria in modo indiscriminato e casuale sulla popolazione per un raggio di oltre 300 metri per ciascuna bomba.

Oltre ai danni alle persone direttamente colpite, una delle preoccupazioni principali è quella degli effetti nascosti e più invasivi a lungo termine che i componenti delle munizioni WP hanno sulla salute pubblica. È stato dimostrato che le munizioni al fosforo bianco rilasciano mercurio, un noto agente teratogeno; è stato documentato che le donne oggettivamente esposte agli attacchi del WP nel 2008-2009 a Gaza avevano una maggiore probabilità di partorire bambini con gravi malformazioni e che questi bambini erano specificamente contaminati alla nascita dal mercurio1. Il mercurio rimane nell’ambiente e l’assorbimento cronico è stato documentato per almeno 9 anni dopo gli attacchi militari nelle donne riproduttivamente attive e, per estensione, nell’intera popolazione di Gaza. Anche nel 2016 è stato riscontrato un maggiore carico di mercurio nei capelli dei neonati associato a gravi malformazioni alla nascita2.

I dati sui danni alla salute causati dal mercurio presente nei residui di armi sono disponibili e pubblicati. Indagini della Corte penale internazionale e conseguenti accuse sarebbero opportune in nome delle vittime e della giustizia.

Nel contesto dell’uso eccessivo della forza contro la popolazione di Gaza, ora più impressionante che mai, riconoscere il reiterato crimine di uso di munizioni WP e portare a rispondere chi ne è nuovamente responsabile può sembrare inutile come incriminare un killer professionista per omissione di soccorso a qualcuno che ha investito in un incidente stradale. Ciononostante, a volte un crimine collaterale può aiutare a consegnare alla giustizia un grave colpevole e l’arroganza mostrata nell’uso reiterato da parte dell’esercito israeliano può portare all’accusa secondo il diritto internazionale dei vertici israeliani, se finalmente la corte penale internazionale onorerà il suo mandato.

Come comunità medico-scientifica anche noi abbiamo la responsabilità di aver consentito questa arroganza e abbiamo la responsabilità di continuare a ignorare gli effetti a lungo termine sulla salute. Ad oggi non sappiamo cosa sia stato sferrato negli ultimi due attacchi militari a Gaza e durante quello in corso, ma sicuramente possiamo intuirlo dall’enorme quantità di armi che colpiscono attualmente Gaza, molte di queste ovviamente dotate di munizioni penetranti, che trasportano anche contaminanti stabili nell’ambiente, che potrebbero avere un impatto enorme sulla salute delle persone sopravvissute, e tutti insieme hanno un impatto ulteriore e in aggiunta a quello della fornitura di teratogeno da parte delle munizioni WP. Il mercurio e una serie di altri metalli pesanti, anch’essi associati a conseguenze negative per la salute, sono sicuramente presenti nella maggior parte delle munizioni, rilasciate in quantità estremamente elevate (Al Jazeera riferisce che in 4 giorni è stata utilizzata a Gaza la stessa quantità di munizioni che in un anno sugli Afghani). Visti i bombardamenti, la frequenza e la potenza delle esplosioni, avverto che i sopravvissuti della popolazione di Gaza corrono un serio rischio a lungo termine per la loro salute in generale, e non solo per quella dei bambini che faranno nascere, ma anche in termini di malattie croniche e non trasmissibili, infertilità maschile e tumori.

Pertanto, mentre l’accusa per l’uso del WP da parte di Israele deve essere perseguita dalla CPI, è necessario che il monitoraggio della salute riproduttiva e pubblica venga condotto nei prossimi anni da investigatori indipendenti senza legami familiari o finanziamenti tracciabili con nessuna delle parti in causa, tra cui i fornitori e i produttori di armi. È necessaria una grande squadra investigativa; protocolli, progetti e tecnologie da mettere in uso sono già stati pubblicati e applicati nel campo della salute riproduttiva da 10 anni; gli studi dovrebbero estendersi alla documentazione dell’incidenza di tumori, malattie non trasmissibili e infertilità maschile parallelamente alla documentazione della contaminazione umana.

Paola Manduca, genetista, già docente presso l’Università di Genova, Presidente di NWRG (New Weapons Research Group) odv

 

Devo aggiungere che sono l’unico firmatario di questa lettera perché i miei colleghi di Gaza che hanno contribuito agli studi negli anni e normalmente firmerebbero questa lettera sono sotto bombardamenti e non hanno più elettricità, acqua, cibo e internet. Posso solo pregare che siano al sicuro e possano leggere presto ciò che ho scritto.


Paola Manduca, Prof. Genetics
President NWRG-odv 

The use of white phosphorus ammunitions on civilian populations is a war crime, and it has definitely heavy health consequences for those directly hit, but these are not the only consequences.

White phosphorus (WP) ammunitions were used before by Israel on Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2008-09. HRW is publishing proofs of its use in the ongoing attacks on Gaza (https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/12/israel-white-phosphorus-used-gaza-lebanon), claim backed by Amnesty International.

WP ammunitions are an insidious way to spread metals stable in the environment, toxic and genotoxic, releasing them high in the air indiscriminately and randomly on the population for a ray of more than 300 meters for each bomblet.

In addition to harm to the people directly hit, a main concern is that of the hidden and more invasive long term effects that components of WP ammunitions have on public health. It was proven that white phosphorus ammunitions deliver mercury, a known a teratogen agent; it was documented that women objectively proven as exposed to WP attacks in 2008-09 in Gaza had higher probability of delivering babies with major malformations, and that these babies were specifically contaminated at birth by mercury. 1Mercury remains in the environment and chronic uptake was documented for at least 9 years after military attacks in reproductively active women, and by extension in the whole population in Gaza. Higher load of mercury in newborn hair was specifically found associated with major malformations at births also in 2016 .2

The data about health damage by mercury in weapon remains are available and published. Enquiry by ICC and indictment are welcome in name of the victims and of justice.

In the context of the excessive use of force against the Gaza population now most impressively that ever, to recognize the reiterated crime od use of WP ammunitions and bring to account the responsible party may seem a path as good as that of indicting a professional killer for omitting help to somebody he hit in a car accident. Nonetheless, sometimes one collateral crime may help to bring to justice a major offender and the hubris shown in reiterated use by the Israeli military may bring to indictment according to international law of the Israeli echelons, if finally the international criminal court will honor its mandate.

As scientific/medical community we have responsibilities too in having allowed this hubris and we have responsibilities if we keep ignoring the long term health effects. As of today we do not know what has been delivered in the last 2 military attacks on Gaza and during this ongoing one, but surely we can guess by the sheer amount of weapons pounding presently on Gaza, many of these obviously penetrating ammunitions, delivering also stable contaminants in the environment, that they may have an enormous impact on survivors people’s health, and all together impact it much further and in addition to that of the delivery of teratogen by WP ammunitions. Mercury and a number of other heavy metals also associated with negative health outcome are definitely present in most ammunitions, delivered in extremely great amount (Al Jazeera reporting that in 4 days the same amount of ammunitions has been used on Gaza as in a year on the Afghans). Seen the pounding of bombs, the frequency and power of the blasts, I am here alerting that survivors in the Gaza population face a serious long term risk for their health in general, and not only for that of the babies they will deliver, but also in terms of chronic and not communicable diseases, male infertility and cancers.

Thus, while indictment for the use of WP by Israel must be pursued by ICC, it is necessary that monitoring of reproductive and public health is conducted during the next years by independent investigators with no traceable links of family or funding to any of the party in question, therein included the weapons providers and producers. A large investigative team is needed; protocols, design and technologies to set in use have already been published and applied in the field of reproductive health along 10 years; studies should extend to documenting incidence of cancers, NCD and male infertility in parallel with documentation of human contamination.

Paola Manduca, Geneticist, previous University of Genoa, President of New weapons research group

I need to mention that I am the only signatory of this letter because my colleagues in Gaza who contributed to the studies in the years and would normally sign this letter are under bombing and have no more electricity, water and food and internet. I can only pray they will be safe and able to read what I wrote soon.

References

  1. -Manduca P, Naim A, Signoriello S.Specific association of teratogen and toxicant metals in hair of newborns with congenital birth defects or developmentally premature birth in a cohort of couples with documented parental exposure to military attacks: observational study at Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza, Palestine. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 May 14;11(5):5208-23.

  2. -Paola Manduca, Nabil Al Baraquni, Loai Albarqouni, Dania Abu Abadi, Hanady Abdallah, Ghada Abu Hamad, Taghreed Abu Mosa, Suha Balousha, Huda Miqdad, Wafa Mohammed, Maha Salah, Raneem El Shawwa. Hospital centered surveillance of births in Gaza, Palestine, 2011-2017 and heavy metal contamination of the mothers reveal long term impact of wars. Reproductive Toxicology, 2019, 86:23-32 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.02.003

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Gaza Ministry of Health Update Fri, 4:00 pm 13 October 2023:

• Gaza: 1,799 Palestinians killed, including 583 children, and 351 women) since the start of escalation on the morning of 7 October, and 7388 citizens were injured, including 1,901 children and 1,185 women.
questi Italiani sono cmq tutti coloni per scelta.
e poi c e questo ritornello dei 260 ucculisi.lo idf ha detto che di questi 100 erano miliziani palestinesi, ma anche dei numeri si fa commercio e quando morti anche i “terroristi” fanno numero.
non ho poca pieta per gli israeliani vittime ma molto schifo per la cultura di quel paese. purtroppo perche fosse meglio tutto cio non sarebbe
🚨 Gaza Ministry of Health Update
Fri, 4:00 pm
13 October 2023:

• Gaza: 1,799 Palestinians killed, including 583 children, and 351 women) since the start of escalation on the morning of 7 October, and 7388 citizens were injured, including 1,901 children and 1,185 women.
🚨Health crews have been working for seven days and did not leave their positions despite targeting the health facilities and it’s surroundings.

🚨Hospitals have started to lose their clinical, pharmaceutical, and fuel capacities, and the situation is getting worse.

🚨We appeal to all parties to speed up the entrance of medical supplies to hospitals before it’s too late

🚨We have a moral and human responsibility to treat the wounded and sick under all circumstances

Dr. Ashraf Alqudera
Spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip
🚨If medical supplies do not arrive immediately at hospitals, patients and victims of the war will suffer tremendously. Over 400 of the wounded are children. We urge immediate and decisive action to ensure all medical supplies are allowed in and all medical facilities are protected.

Dr.Ashraf Alqudra
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health-Gaza Strip

🚨Israeli forces triggered a mass exodus of civilians through a recent edict issued at midnight, forcing citizens to evacuate their homes.

🚨While following Israel’s edict, more than 40 citizens were killed and 150 injured. They are being treated at Al-Shifa Medical Complex

Dr. Ashraf Aqudra
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health

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ECCP CALLS FOR THE PROTECTION OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AND UPHOLDING OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

L’ECCP CHIEDE LA PROTEZIONE DEI PALESTINESI A GAZA E IL RISPETTO DEL DIRITTO INTERNAZIONALE
Pubblicato in Statements (Dichiarazioni)  13 ottobre 2023 (https://www.eccpalestine.org/eccp-calls-for-the-protection-of-palestinians-in-gaza-and-upholding-of-international-law/)

L’ECCP condanna la violenza devastante avvenuta negli ultimi giorni in Israele e a Gaza. Prendere di mira deliberatamente i civili e compiere attacchi sproporzionati e indiscriminati che uccidono o feriscono civili costituiscono crimini di guerra.

La mattina del 13 ottobre, Israele ha ordinato a 1,1 milioni di palestinesi di “evacuare” la metà settentrionale della Striscia di Gaza occupata, spingendo i funzionari delle Nazioni Unite ad avvertire di una catastrofe imminente e senza precedenti.

L’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (OMS) e i funzionari delle Nazioni Unite hanno esortato Israele a cancellare il suo ordine di evacuazione, affermando che costringere i pazienti vulnerabili a evacuare gli ospedali di Gaza equivale a una “condanna a morte”.

È fondamentale affrontare la recente crisi, il suo contesto e le cause sottostanti, nonché l’assoluta necessità che la potenza occupante e tutti i gruppi di resistenza delle persone sotto occupazione rispettino il diritto internazionale e il divieto di danneggiare i civili.

Ma ora la massima priorità per chiunque abbia a cuore i diritti umani e il rispetto del diritto internazionale è fare pressione sui governi e sulle Nazioni Unite affinché impongano un cessate il fuoco, forniscano protezione ai civili e costringano Israele, la potenza occupante, a consentire aiuti umanitari urgenti, compresi cibo, acqua, attrezzature mediche ed elettricità, ai 2,3 milioni di palestinesi intrappolati nella Striscia di Gaza occupata ed ermeticamente assediata.

Dall’8 ottobre, i palestinesi di Gaza sono stati sottoposti al bombardamento israeliano più intenso, incessante e indiscriminato di sempre, colpendo case, mercati, scuole e università, ospedali, operatori sanitari, giornalisti e l’intera infrastruttura civile. Le forze di occupazione israeliane stanno attuando la loro “dottrina Dahiya”, che richiede appunto una “forza sproporzionata” per massimizzare i danni ai civili e alle infrastrutture civili. Questa è una palese violazione del diritto internazionale.

Intere famiglie sono state, ancora una volta, cancellate dalla faccia della terra. Da sabato, le bombe israeliane hanno ucciso oltre 1.500 palestinesi, più di un terzo dei quali bambini. Oltre mezzo milione di persone sono state sfollate, anche prima degli imminenti e catastrofici ordini di “evacuazione”.

Dobbiamo agire ora, con la massima urgenza. Molte vite palestinesi dipendono da questo.

Chiediamo a tutti i governi europei di richiedere una sessione d’emergenza delle Nazioni Unite per fermare l’imminente massacro a Gaza e per garantire che le convenzioni delle Nazioni Unite siano pienamente attuate.

Chiediamo un cessate il fuoco immediato, la protezione immediata dei palestinesi a Gaza da parte delle Nazioni Unite e la fornitura immediata di aiuti umanitari.

ENGLISH

ECCP condemns the devastating violence in Israel and Gaza in recent days. Deliberately targeting civilians, carrying out disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks which kill or injure civilians are war crimes.

In the morning of October 13, Israel ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to “evacuate” the northern half of the occupied Gaza Strip, prompting UN officials to warn of an impending and unprecedented catastrophe.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN officials have urged Israel to cancel its evacuation order, saying that forcing vulnerable patients to evacuate hospitals in Gaza amounts to a “death sentence.”

Addressing the recent crisis, its context and underlying causes, and the absolute need for the occupying power as well as all resistance groups of the people under occupation to respect international law and to abide by the prohibition against harming civilians, is vital.

But the top priority now for anyone who cares about human rights and upholding international law is to pressure governments and the UN to impose a ceasefire, to provide protection for civilians, and to compel Israel, the occupying power, to allow urgent humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical equipment and electricity, in to the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the Israeli-occupied and hermetically besieged Gaza Strip.

Since October 8th, the Palestinians in Gaza have been under the most intense, relentless and indiscriminate Israeli bombardment ever, targeting homes, markets, schools and universities, hospitals, healthworkers, journalists, and the entire civilian infrastructure. The Israeli occupation forces are implementing their “Dahiya Doctrine,” which precisely calls for “disproportionate force” to maximise damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure. This is a blatant violation of international law.

Entire families have, again, been wiped off the face of the earth. Since Saturday, Israel’s bombs have murdered over 1,500 Palestinians, over a third of them children. Over half a million have been displaced, even before the impending catastrophic “evacuation” orders.

We need to act now, with utmost urgency. Many Palestinian lives depend on it.

We call on all European governments to request an emergency UN session to stop the upcoming massacre in Gaza and to ensure that United Nations conventions are fully implemented.

We call for an immediate ceasefire, UN protection for Palestinians in Gaza now and allowance for humanitarian aid to be delivered immediately.

 

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Statement: Hospitals in the Gaza Strip at a breaking point, warns WHO

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip at a breaking point, warns WHO

https://www.emro.who.int/opt/news/hospitals-in-the-gaza-strip-at-a-breaking-point-warns-who.html

Jerusalem, 12 October 2023 – WHO warns that the health system in the Gaza Strip is at a breaking point. Time is running out to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe if fuel and life-saving health and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered to the Gaza Strip amidst the complete blockade.

Hospitals have only a few hours of electricity each day as they are forced to ration depleting fuel reserves and rely on generators to sustain the most critical functions. Even these functions will have to cease in a few days, when fuel stocks are due to run out. The impact would be devastating for the most vulnerable patients, including the injured who need lifesaving surgery, patients in intensive care units, and newborns depending on care in incubators.

As injuries and fatalities continue to rise due to the ongoing air, land, and naval strikes on the Gaza Strip, acute shortages of medical supplies are compounding the crisis, limiting the response capacity of already overstretched hospitals to treat the sick and injured.

The situation has also gravely disrupted the delivery of essential health services, including obstetric care, management of noncommunicable diseases such as cancer and heart diseases, and treatment of common infections, as all health facilities are forced to prioritize lifesaving emergency care.

Access for emergency medical teams in the field is severely hampered by infrastructure damage. WHO has documented 34 attacks on health care in Gaza since last Saturday that have resulted in the death of 11 health workers on duty, 16 injuries, and damages to 19 health facilities and 20 ambulances.

Without the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza — especially health services, medical supplies, food, clean water, fuel, and non-food items — humanitarian and health partners will be unable to respond to urgent needs of people who desperately need it. Each lost hour puts more lives at risk.

WHO calls for an end to hostilities and the protection of health care and civilians against attacks. WHO also calls for the immediate opening of a humanitarian corridor to ensure unimpeded access for health and humanitarian supplies, as well as for personnel, and the evacuation of patients and the injured. WHO further reiterates its call for the respect and protection of health care.

WHO is ready to immediately dispatch trauma and essential health supplies through its logistics hub in Dubai and working with partners to ensure that they can reach the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing. Urgent access through the crossing is essential so that WHO and other humanitarian agencies can act quickly to help save lives.

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A Call to Save Lives in Gaza

We, the undersigned Palestinian and international civil society organizations, urgently call for an immediate end to the ongoing war over Gaza and the protection of civilians in accordance with international law.

We are deeply concerned about the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s military actions have resulted in a horrific humanitarian catastrophe. As of 12 October 2023, over 1,417 Palestinians, including 447 children, were killed, with 6,268 wounded and more than 250,000 people displaced from their homes.

In addition, the deliberate cutting off of electricity, water and the blockade of essential supplies, such as fuel, have led to a power outage with a complete blackout in Gaza. Hospitals, that are already full, are now incapable of providing critical health services to the injured, also, medicines and medical supplies are depleting rapidly. Furthermore, the dire shortage of water is crippling Gaza’s shelters, with desalination plants inoperable due to ongoing Israeli bombings and power supply disruptions.

Deprivation of food, water, electricity, and gas as part of a “complete siege” on Gaza is not only a violation of international law but also a grave violation of basic human rights and fundamental principles of humanity. Such inhumane acts harm civilians and will lead to genocide and for a second Nakba.

As a result, we implore the International community (International organizations, European Union and its Member Estates, public institutions, and civil society alike) to take immediate and meaningful actions to end the Israeli aggression on the people in Gaza and to protect the lives of innocent civilians.

We appeal all the states parties to the Geneva Conventions to put pressure on Israel to respect international law, including the principles of proportionality, necessity and distinction, to prevent harm to civilians, and to establish humanitarian corridors to ensure that medical aid and food supplies reach those in need.

We demand respect for international law.

The time to act is now.

 Un llamamiento para salvar vidas en Gaza

Los ataques contra la población civil deben cesar inmediatamente.

 

Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil palestina e internacional abajo firmantes hacemos un llamamiento urgente para que se ponga fin de inmediato a la actual guerra sobre Gaza y se proteja a la población civil de acuerdo con el derecho internacional.

Estamos profundamente preocupadas por la escalada de la situación en la Franja de Gaza, donde las acciones militares de Israel están provocando una terrible catástrofe humanitaria. A 12 de octubre de 2023, más de 1.417 palestinos, entre ellos 447 niños, habían muerto, 6.268 habían resultado heridos y más de 250.000 personas se habían visto desplazadas de sus hogares.

Además, el corte deliberado de electricidad y agua y el bloqueo de suministros esenciales, como el combustible, han provocado un apagón total en Gaza. Los hospitales, que parten de un estado de saturación, son ahora incapaces de prestar servicios sanitarios críticos a los heridos; además, las medicinas y los suministros médicos se están agotando rápidamente. La grave escasez de agua está paralizando los refugios de Gaza, con plantas desalinizadoras inoperativas debido a los continuos bombardeos israelíes y a las interrupciones del suministro eléctrico.

La privación de alimentos, agua, electricidad y gas en el marco de un “asedio total” a Gaza no sólo constituye una violación del derecho internacional, sino también una grave violación de los derechos humanos básicos y de los principios fundamentales de la humanidad. Estos actos inhumanos perjudican a los civiles y conducirán al genocidio y a una segunda Nakba.

En consecuencia, imploramos a la comunidad internacional (organizaciones internacionales, Unión Europea y sus Estados miembros, instituciones públicas y sociedad civil por igual) que tomen medidas inmediatas y significativas para poner fin a la agresión israelí contra la población de Gaza y proteger la vida de los civiles inocentes.

Hacemos un llamamiento a todos los Estados Partes de los Convenios de Ginebra para que presionen a Israel a fin de que respete el derecho internacional, incluidos los principios de proporcionalidad, necesidad y distinción, evite daños a la población civil y establezca corredores humanitarios que garanticen que la ayuda médica y los suministros de alimentos llegan a quienes los necesitan.

Exigimos que se respete el derecho internacional.

 

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