Friday, February 29, 2008

Israel vows a "holocaust" against Palestinians

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said on Israel's army radio that "They (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves."

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL296121231

Please read the following press release for a glimpse of what Israel is doing:

Palestinian Child Arts Center appeals protection for Gaza children
Thursday February 28, 2008 23:43 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC

The Palestinian Child Arts Center issued an urgent press release appealing international human rights groups and organizations specialized in the rights of children to intervene and protect the Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip as they face a real humanitarian disaster.

The Center stated that what is happening in Gaza is a grave violation to the rights of the children and to all Children Rights Conventions. The Center called for immediate protection for the residents in the Gaza Strip, especially the children "as they are being killed and injured while all want they want is to live as they love life and want to live as any child in this world does".

The statement of the center came after the Israeli army killed 27 residents, including several children, in less than 48 hours. On Thursday afternoon four Palestinian children were killed and one was critically injured when Israeli jet fighters shot several missiles at civilians in Jabalia town, located in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday afternoon. Medical sources identified the four as, Mohamed Hamudah, 7, Ali Dardonah, 8, Omer Dardonah, 14, and his brother Deib, 11.

http://www.imemc.org/article/53123.html


Israeli Air strike in Gaza Destroys Medical Relief Head Office, Kills
Baby


Ramallah, 28/02/2008. An Israeli airstrike aimed at the ministry of interior building in Gaza City also destroyed the nearby Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) head office in Gaza and killed a 5-month-old baby in a residential building in the same area.

The PMRS head office was housing the main PMRS clinic in the Gaza Strip, the main pharmacy, an ambulance, a loan centre for handicapped people and all the administrative offices. The ambulance, all the medicine and most of the equipment have been destroyed. The building itself is badly damaged and cannot be used again without extensive repairs.

The attack also hit a nearby residential building, killing Mohamad Nasser Al-Borey, 5 months, in his family home.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, president of PMRS, declared "the collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza has reached unbearable levels. This latest attack destroyed a key part of the already badly hit Gazan health system. Israel has lost all sense of humanity, and the silence of the international community enables its murderous escalation against a people imprisoned in a giant jail. These relentless violations of international law must be put to an end. It is a war crime under the Geneva Convention to target medical personnel. Regional organisations and individual States have to take actions to protect the Palestinian people from Israel. This must stop, now".

Dr. Abdel Hadi Abu Khussa, director of PMRS in the Gaza Strip, declared that "the destruction of the main clinic, pharmacy, office and one ambulance are a terrible blow to PMRS activities and will increase the suffering of the people of Gaza. We are victims of Israeli collective punishment".
Background: PMRS' Work in the Gaza Strip
PMRS is one of the largest non-governmental health service providers in Palestine, reaching 1.4 million Palestinians in over 490 cities, towns and villages in 2007. This was achieved through the extensive physical and human network built in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 29 years since PMRS was established.

In Gaza, PMRS maintains four primary healthcare centres, two ambulances and two mobile clinics as well as an effective program to help people with disabilities, especially children. PMRS also runs an Individual Relief program for patients in need and a centre providing physiotherapy and assistive equipment to the disabled.

In response to the complete Israeli blockade of Gaza since January 2008, PMRS had declared a status of emergency and was stepping up its emergency program to support the needs of the people of Gaza.

Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) – www.pmrs.ps

Quality Health Care For All

JIHAD MASHAL
Director General
Palestinian Medical Relief Society

Al-Bireh , PMRS Building
P.O.Box 572
Ramallah
Palestine
jihad@pmrs.ps

fax:
mobile:
Tel:+970-2-2969970
OR: +972-2-2969970
+ 970-2-2969999
OR:+972-2-2969999
+ 970-599-55 77 55
OR: +972-599-55 77 55

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