14 may 2015
Palestinian surgeons at Alia public hospital in Hebron in the southern West Bank on Wednesday successfully repaired a very uncommon skull deformity of a baby.
Dr. Imad Rashid, the neurosurgeon who performed the operation, confirmed to Ma'an the rarity of the case, highlighting that he and his team removed a deformity three times the size of the infant's skull.
The baby has completely recovered, he added.
"The surgery is a source of pride given the limited equipment we have," said director of Alia Hospital Dr. Walid Zalloum, boasting of the skillful surgeons and nurses the hospital has.
"From time to time, we perform qualitative surgeries at the hospital which serves more than 800,000 people in the Hebron district, in addition to those who come from other Palestinian districts." The team of surgeons consisted of neurosurgeon Imad Rashid, pediatric surgeon Hasan Breijiyya and anesthetist Imad Shuroof.
Dr. Imad Rashid, the neurosurgeon who performed the operation, confirmed to Ma'an the rarity of the case, highlighting that he and his team removed a deformity three times the size of the infant's skull.
The baby has completely recovered, he added.
"The surgery is a source of pride given the limited equipment we have," said director of Alia Hospital Dr. Walid Zalloum, boasting of the skillful surgeons and nurses the hospital has.
"From time to time, we perform qualitative surgeries at the hospital which serves more than 800,000 people in the Hebron district, in addition to those who come from other Palestinian districts." The team of surgeons consisted of neurosurgeon Imad Rashid, pediatric surgeon Hasan Breijiyya and anesthetist Imad Shuroof.
7 may 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escorted by policemen stormed Health Work Committees’ center in Shufat in Occupied Jerusalem and handed a one-year closure notice to the staff.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claimed that “the center is used for terrorist activities and accordingly it has been decided to close it for one year based on Prevention of Terrorism Act (1948)”.
The center is run by the Health Work Committees School Health Program which offers health services to Jerusalemite students in more than 62 schools. Thousands of students as well as teachers and parents benefit from the program. The Israeli officers stormed the center, confiscated its computers and handed summonses to the head of the school health program and its administrative assistant to be questioned in Israeli intelligence headquarters.
The program started its work in Occupied Jerusalem in 1990. It offers health services and health educational activities to school students.
The services include children vaccination, preventive and diagnosis medical checkups and many others in light of the fact that Israel does not allow the Palestinian Ministry of Health to work in schools of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Health Work Committees in Jerusalem called on the international and local human rights, health and legal institutions to intervene in order to oblige Israel to cancel the closure order.
It said the closure order is arbitrary and unjust as it affects the health of thousands of the Jerusalemite school students.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claimed that “the center is used for terrorist activities and accordingly it has been decided to close it for one year based on Prevention of Terrorism Act (1948)”.
The center is run by the Health Work Committees School Health Program which offers health services to Jerusalemite students in more than 62 schools. Thousands of students as well as teachers and parents benefit from the program. The Israeli officers stormed the center, confiscated its computers and handed summonses to the head of the school health program and its administrative assistant to be questioned in Israeli intelligence headquarters.
The program started its work in Occupied Jerusalem in 1990. It offers health services and health educational activities to school students.
The services include children vaccination, preventive and diagnosis medical checkups and many others in light of the fact that Israel does not allow the Palestinian Ministry of Health to work in schools of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Health Work Committees in Jerusalem called on the international and local human rights, health and legal institutions to intervene in order to oblige Israel to cancel the closure order.
It said the closure order is arbitrary and unjust as it affects the health of thousands of the Jerusalemite school students.
4 may 2015
|
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In cooperation with One-to-Three organization in Palestine, Lajee
center on Sunday organized a free medical day for Aida refugee camp
north Bethlehem. The event took place in the Bethlehem Arab Society for
Rehabilitation hospital.
Director of "One-to-Three" organization, Nidal Al-Azraq said that this health project was the initial step towards constructing a medical clinic in the camp, saying that the Education and health fields were two of the most neglected for the refugees. Al-Azraq added that the crew met with the refugees in Aida to investigate their needs in the camp, which were distinguished mostly by the need for appropriate water distribution and health care. A medical team from the United states, in addition to local medics, were then brought to the camp for participation. |
Dr. Taha Qaraqe' from the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation pointed out that the medical day offers free health checks by the medics, in addition to health condition assessments and searching patients' dietary of lifestyle issues, and finally giving medical recommendations.
Nurse Mohammed Titi said that about 30 people were checked , saying that his role as a nurse was measuring the level of sugar, blood pressure, weight, height, adding that the patients are referred to specialized doctors for follow-up after.
He added that many patients had issues they did not know of, majorly cases with pressure and diabetes.
Nurse Mohammed Titi said that about 30 people were checked , saying that his role as a nurse was measuring the level of sugar, blood pressure, weight, height, adding that the patients are referred to specialized doctors for follow-up after.
He added that many patients had issues they did not know of, majorly cases with pressure and diabetes.
29 apr 2015
The Palestine branch of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has denied accusations that members of the mission leaked information on Palestinian patients to Israeli authorities.
Head of the MSF Palestine mission, Juan Carlon Cano, told Ma'an that the claims published recently by local Palestinian media are not true and emerged due to an internal conflict between two organization members.
Cano told Ma'an that the independent humanitarian medical organization does not have a political vision and that its work focuses only on providing quality medical care for Palestinians who live under occupation.
Cano added that the organization is committed to medical confidentiality and does not reveal any personal, medical or other information that may expose patients to harm by any authority or third party, without the approval of the patient.
He denied the claim that an Israeli is working as a supervisor to other workers in the organization's projects in Palestine.Cano's statements came after Palestinian media had recently reported that his mission had employed an Israeli supervisor who shared information on Palestinian patients across the West Bank to Israeli authorities.
The organization has worked in the Gaza Strip since 1989 responding to direct and indirect consequences of violence in the enclave, andhas operated a psychological health program in the occupied West Bank districts of Jenin, Hebron, Nablus and Qalqiliya since 2000 and in Jerusalem since 2011.
In 2014, more than 5,500 people received psychological support, more than 340 surgeries were carried out and more than 1020 patients received rehabilitative care, according to the organization.
Head of the MSF Palestine mission, Juan Carlon Cano, told Ma'an that the claims published recently by local Palestinian media are not true and emerged due to an internal conflict between two organization members.
Cano told Ma'an that the independent humanitarian medical organization does not have a political vision and that its work focuses only on providing quality medical care for Palestinians who live under occupation.
Cano added that the organization is committed to medical confidentiality and does not reveal any personal, medical or other information that may expose patients to harm by any authority or third party, without the approval of the patient.
He denied the claim that an Israeli is working as a supervisor to other workers in the organization's projects in Palestine.Cano's statements came after Palestinian media had recently reported that his mission had employed an Israeli supervisor who shared information on Palestinian patients across the West Bank to Israeli authorities.
The organization has worked in the Gaza Strip since 1989 responding to direct and indirect consequences of violence in the enclave, andhas operated a psychological health program in the occupied West Bank districts of Jenin, Hebron, Nablus and Qalqiliya since 2000 and in Jerusalem since 2011.
In 2014, more than 5,500 people received psychological support, more than 340 surgeries were carried out and more than 1020 patients received rehabilitative care, according to the organization.
28 apr 2015
A Palestinian citizen from the northern West Bank province of Nablus died of H1N1, the sixth death from the virus so far.
Director of the Information Department at the Health Ministry, Dr. Tarif Ashour, said a 46-year-old citizen, from Nablus’s western village of Beit Iba, succumbed to the swine flu after he was hospitalized in a clinic in the 1948 occupied territories, just a few days after the virus had contaminated his body.
The man’s death is the sixth of its kind reported in the occupied Palestinian territories so far.
Director of the Information Department at the Health Ministry, Dr. Tarif Ashour, said a 46-year-old citizen, from Nablus’s western village of Beit Iba, succumbed to the swine flu after he was hospitalized in a clinic in the 1948 occupied territories, just a few days after the virus had contaminated his body.
The man’s death is the sixth of its kind reported in the occupied Palestinian territories so far.
21 apr 2015
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced that the crisis of shortage in medicines and medical disposables has been critically aggravated because of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than eight years.
Director General of Pharmacy, Ashraf Abu Mahady, said that the Ministry is now totally lacking 118 kinds of medicines (25%) and 334 kind of medical disposals (37%), according to a report by Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency.
He pointed to the significant lack of medical disposables for cardiac catheterization and open heart surgeries, which has reached 80% , and which will lead to the increase of cases needing medical treatment and transfers abroad.
He explained that there are several services affected by the shortage of medicines, mainly the complete lack of 32% of primary care drugs, in addition to 54% of the immunological drugs and 30% of oncology drugs, which will have grave impact on chronic conditions suffered by patients in the region.
Mahadi warned of the continued lack of medicines in ministry stores, which will further aggravate the crisis in the Strip, in case that it lasts for more time.
He urged concerned bodies, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization to exert pressure on the Israeli government to lift the blockade and to open the crossings.
Director General of Pharmacy, Ashraf Abu Mahady, said that the Ministry is now totally lacking 118 kinds of medicines (25%) and 334 kind of medical disposals (37%), according to a report by Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency.
He pointed to the significant lack of medical disposables for cardiac catheterization and open heart surgeries, which has reached 80% , and which will lead to the increase of cases needing medical treatment and transfers abroad.
He explained that there are several services affected by the shortage of medicines, mainly the complete lack of 32% of primary care drugs, in addition to 54% of the immunological drugs and 30% of oncology drugs, which will have grave impact on chronic conditions suffered by patients in the region.
Mahadi warned of the continued lack of medicines in ministry stores, which will further aggravate the crisis in the Strip, in case that it lasts for more time.
He urged concerned bodies, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization to exert pressure on the Israeli government to lift the blockade and to open the crossings.
1 apr 2015
A new fatality has been reported in the West Bank of swine flu on Wednesday, bringing the number of West Bank Palestinians who died of the virus to six since the beginning of this year.
Local sources said that a 73-year-old woman, from Jenin, died Tuesday evening after contracting the swine flu virus, known as H1N1, two weeks ago. She died in a hospital in Jenin where she was receiving medical treatment at the ICU, the sources added.
For his part, Head of Preventive Medicine Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Health Dr. Asad Ramlawi said, in a press statement, the elderly woman was infected with several diseases in addition to swine flu.
The swine flu death toll, since the commencement of this year, has raised a state of fear among Palestinians in the West Bank of the possibility of a wider spread of the virus. The citizens also doubt the capability of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to handle the situation.
Official health authorities, however, played down fears and confirmed the availability of the vaccine, pointing out that the cases of death were all suffering other diseases in addition to weak immunity.
Local sources said that a 73-year-old woman, from Jenin, died Tuesday evening after contracting the swine flu virus, known as H1N1, two weeks ago. She died in a hospital in Jenin where she was receiving medical treatment at the ICU, the sources added.
For his part, Head of Preventive Medicine Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Health Dr. Asad Ramlawi said, in a press statement, the elderly woman was infected with several diseases in addition to swine flu.
The swine flu death toll, since the commencement of this year, has raised a state of fear among Palestinians in the West Bank of the possibility of a wider spread of the virus. The citizens also doubt the capability of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to handle the situation.
Official health authorities, however, played down fears and confirmed the availability of the vaccine, pointing out that the cases of death were all suffering other diseases in addition to weak immunity.
25 mar 2015
Termination of services
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza, Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, warned of the deterioration of the medical conditions in the Gaza Strip in light of the reconciliation government's continued negligence of its responsibilities.
In an interview with the PIC, Abu Al-Rish insisted there was a political background for this carelessness.
Abu Al-Rish warned the next weeks could witness a decrease or even a termination of some of the Ministry's services, including the temporary closure of some hospitals.
MOH’s dirty politics
He added that the MOH in the West Bank refuses to reply to its employees’ constant attempts to communicate. He pointed out that the quartet committee formed to break the deadlock remains a dead letter with the constant disregard to its recommendations. Furthermore, he said the supplies provided by the Ministry of Health in Ramallah during the division were more than the current supplies of the unity government.
"Under the unity government, the Gaza Strip has suffered an exceptional shortage of medicines and equipment," said Abu Al-Rish.
Abu Al-Rish confirmed that the Ministry has run out of 220 types of drugs, and the estimated shortage of drugs is eight to ten million dollars. When asked about the aid from the donors and charitable organizations, he emphasized that "the aid that used to come through Rafah Crossing, which always boosted the medical sector, have almost stopped."
Struggle to survive
He referred to some positive and negative indications on the medical level in the Strip. On the positive side, he asserted the relative stability in services provided with some significant breakthroughs, such as the decrease in mortality rate of newborns over the past two years from 30% to 4.3%.
“In addition, there are breakthroughs in the areas of heart and eye surgeries, and the possibility of kidney transplant surgeries in Gaza hospitals,” the health official said, describing, meanwhile, the Ministry's ability to survive and provide services as the greatest achievement.
Spread of diseases
As for the negative indications, he referred to the continuity of Anemia and Osteomalacia symptoms as a result of malnutrition. Abu Al-Rish said, "Statistics in this regard are approximate; and some statistics are getting worse as a result of the siege."
He stated that the past year recorded an increase in the mortality of the pregnant women in labor, especially during the latest Israeli aggression.
Abu Al-Rish confirmed the presence of serious indications of some diseases, including kidney failure. According to Abu Al-Rish, the rate of kidney failure in the world is 3%, while it has reached 30% in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, he pointed to the spread of these diseases in certain regions, which indicates the presence of specific reasons behind this. He asserted the urgent need for specialized studies to find out these reasons.
Abu Al-Rish said that the rate of cancer diseases in the Gaza Strip is increasing, which necessitates the need for specialized studies especially since the Gaza Strip is considered a young society.
Likewise, heart diseases in the Strip are rising. This "shows the state of worry and stress, on one hand, and the inability of early detection of blood pressure and chronic diseases on the other."
Abu Al-Rish affirmed that the Ministry is striving to cope with the hard conditions of the medical sector in the Strip through a vision of rationalizing and maximizing revenues, discipline, and avoiding breakdown or collapse.
Work without salaries
Talking about the major problems in the medical sector, Abu Al-Rish said, "The major crisis is having around 60% of the employees deprived of their salaries. How could they perform well without having being paid for the past 10 months or so?" Abu Al-Rish believes this is a key issue in the medical sector in Gaza that has to be sorted out as soon as possible.
All indicators, Abu Al-Rish sums up, tell that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is not interested in aiding the Gaza Strip. “It’s all politics. People are frustrated in Gaza and they are being used by the PA to achieve political gains.”
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza, Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, warned of the deterioration of the medical conditions in the Gaza Strip in light of the reconciliation government's continued negligence of its responsibilities.
In an interview with the PIC, Abu Al-Rish insisted there was a political background for this carelessness.
Abu Al-Rish warned the next weeks could witness a decrease or even a termination of some of the Ministry's services, including the temporary closure of some hospitals.
MOH’s dirty politics
He added that the MOH in the West Bank refuses to reply to its employees’ constant attempts to communicate. He pointed out that the quartet committee formed to break the deadlock remains a dead letter with the constant disregard to its recommendations. Furthermore, he said the supplies provided by the Ministry of Health in Ramallah during the division were more than the current supplies of the unity government.
"Under the unity government, the Gaza Strip has suffered an exceptional shortage of medicines and equipment," said Abu Al-Rish.
Abu Al-Rish confirmed that the Ministry has run out of 220 types of drugs, and the estimated shortage of drugs is eight to ten million dollars. When asked about the aid from the donors and charitable organizations, he emphasized that "the aid that used to come through Rafah Crossing, which always boosted the medical sector, have almost stopped."
Struggle to survive
He referred to some positive and negative indications on the medical level in the Strip. On the positive side, he asserted the relative stability in services provided with some significant breakthroughs, such as the decrease in mortality rate of newborns over the past two years from 30% to 4.3%.
“In addition, there are breakthroughs in the areas of heart and eye surgeries, and the possibility of kidney transplant surgeries in Gaza hospitals,” the health official said, describing, meanwhile, the Ministry's ability to survive and provide services as the greatest achievement.
Spread of diseases
As for the negative indications, he referred to the continuity of Anemia and Osteomalacia symptoms as a result of malnutrition. Abu Al-Rish said, "Statistics in this regard are approximate; and some statistics are getting worse as a result of the siege."
He stated that the past year recorded an increase in the mortality of the pregnant women in labor, especially during the latest Israeli aggression.
Abu Al-Rish confirmed the presence of serious indications of some diseases, including kidney failure. According to Abu Al-Rish, the rate of kidney failure in the world is 3%, while it has reached 30% in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, he pointed to the spread of these diseases in certain regions, which indicates the presence of specific reasons behind this. He asserted the urgent need for specialized studies to find out these reasons.
Abu Al-Rish said that the rate of cancer diseases in the Gaza Strip is increasing, which necessitates the need for specialized studies especially since the Gaza Strip is considered a young society.
Likewise, heart diseases in the Strip are rising. This "shows the state of worry and stress, on one hand, and the inability of early detection of blood pressure and chronic diseases on the other."
Abu Al-Rish affirmed that the Ministry is striving to cope with the hard conditions of the medical sector in the Strip through a vision of rationalizing and maximizing revenues, discipline, and avoiding breakdown or collapse.
Work without salaries
Talking about the major problems in the medical sector, Abu Al-Rish said, "The major crisis is having around 60% of the employees deprived of their salaries. How could they perform well without having being paid for the past 10 months or so?" Abu Al-Rish believes this is a key issue in the medical sector in Gaza that has to be sorted out as soon as possible.
All indicators, Abu Al-Rish sums up, tell that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is not interested in aiding the Gaza Strip. “It’s all politics. People are frustrated in Gaza and they are being used by the PA to achieve political gains.”
24 mar 2015
Since the end of the last war on Gaza Akram Said, an employee at the ambulance emergency department has been blaming all the officials in the Ministry of Health and in the department responsible for sending patients for treatment abroad in particular.
His health status hasn't improved ever since he was wounded during the shelling on al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza when he sustained shrapnel injuries in his neck causing his voice to change entirely in addition to other health problems.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shelled al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah during al-Asf al-Maakoul battle in which scores of Palestinians were killed and wounded and among them was Akram and two of his colleagues. The IOF artillery shelling targeted five hospitals throughout the war that was launched in July last year.
Akram, 45, affirmed that he was hit in the neck with two pieces of shrapnel and parts of his vein and nerves were cut, and added that he was advised to travel to Germany so as to receive the appropriate treatment; since surgical operations are advanced there.
In spite of all the sacrifices made by the employees in the emergency department in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah they were not appreciated properly and no one even said "thank you", according to them.
Imad Ali, the manager of the emergency department in al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said: "We didn't leave our work and when the first shell was fired on my office I was the first one to hurry to rescue the injured, then the whole crew followed me and three paramedics were wounded. Unfortunately on the honoring ceremony day, organized a few days ago, no one even mentioned us or intervened to help us to receive the treatment we need abroad”.
Akram, who has just returned from a mission to the European Hospital, wondered if one day paramedics will ever find someone to transfer them to hospitals in the future after his bitter experience.
"All paramedics including myself are depressed, my friend Ahmed al-Astal can't travel as his hand's nerves were damaged and he needs a surgery, and I've been waiting for promises that never came true!" he said, adding: "I even pay the expenses of my treatment and the X-rays from my own money, we are not receiving our salaries."
He is suffering shrapnel injuries and demanding a chance to receive the treatment he needs in a European hospital.
His eyes filled with tears when he talked about the medical problem of a very sensitive nerve which doctors have not discovered yet and he is constantly suffering from.
The paramedic Abdul Hamid al-Aqqad affirmed that in spite of risking their lives; paramedics are deprived of all their rights. "No salaries, no rights, not even a proper room to sit in!" al-Aqqad charged.
Ongoing suffering
Many health officials speak with reservations about Akram's case, in spite of his humanitarian condition and in spite of the fact that many health institutions abroad agreed to receive a number of the Palestinians wounded during the war, including the consent of a German hospital to treat him.
Dr. Yahya Khadr, in charge of the department responsible for sending patients for treatment abroad, pointed out that there is an administrative problem in Akram's file and a communication problem between the department and the institution willing to offer him the treatment he needs.
The internal division and the consensus government's failure to fulfill its role increased the suffering of Akram, whose house was destroyed by the Israeli occupation in 2004.
His health status hasn't improved ever since he was wounded during the shelling on al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza when he sustained shrapnel injuries in his neck causing his voice to change entirely in addition to other health problems.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shelled al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah during al-Asf al-Maakoul battle in which scores of Palestinians were killed and wounded and among them was Akram and two of his colleagues. The IOF artillery shelling targeted five hospitals throughout the war that was launched in July last year.
Akram, 45, affirmed that he was hit in the neck with two pieces of shrapnel and parts of his vein and nerves were cut, and added that he was advised to travel to Germany so as to receive the appropriate treatment; since surgical operations are advanced there.
In spite of all the sacrifices made by the employees in the emergency department in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah they were not appreciated properly and no one even said "thank you", according to them.
Imad Ali, the manager of the emergency department in al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said: "We didn't leave our work and when the first shell was fired on my office I was the first one to hurry to rescue the injured, then the whole crew followed me and three paramedics were wounded. Unfortunately on the honoring ceremony day, organized a few days ago, no one even mentioned us or intervened to help us to receive the treatment we need abroad”.
Akram, who has just returned from a mission to the European Hospital, wondered if one day paramedics will ever find someone to transfer them to hospitals in the future after his bitter experience.
"All paramedics including myself are depressed, my friend Ahmed al-Astal can't travel as his hand's nerves were damaged and he needs a surgery, and I've been waiting for promises that never came true!" he said, adding: "I even pay the expenses of my treatment and the X-rays from my own money, we are not receiving our salaries."
He is suffering shrapnel injuries and demanding a chance to receive the treatment he needs in a European hospital.
His eyes filled with tears when he talked about the medical problem of a very sensitive nerve which doctors have not discovered yet and he is constantly suffering from.
The paramedic Abdul Hamid al-Aqqad affirmed that in spite of risking their lives; paramedics are deprived of all their rights. "No salaries, no rights, not even a proper room to sit in!" al-Aqqad charged.
Ongoing suffering
Many health officials speak with reservations about Akram's case, in spite of his humanitarian condition and in spite of the fact that many health institutions abroad agreed to receive a number of the Palestinians wounded during the war, including the consent of a German hospital to treat him.
Dr. Yahya Khadr, in charge of the department responsible for sending patients for treatment abroad, pointed out that there is an administrative problem in Akram's file and a communication problem between the department and the institution willing to offer him the treatment he needs.
The internal division and the consensus government's failure to fulfill its role increased the suffering of Akram, whose house was destroyed by the Israeli occupation in 2004.
A Jordanian medical delegation entered Gaza on Monday via the Beit Hanoun border crossing to check up on the current state of affairs in Gaza and assess the aftermaths of the latest Israeli offensive.
Head of the department of Gaza’s border crossings, Maher Abu Sabha, said a Jordanian delegation of 13 doctors arrived in the Strip via the Beit Hanoun crossing to keep tabs on the health situation in Gaza’s hospitals and evaluate the upshots of Israel’s latest war on the besieged coastal enclave.
International and UN institutions have warned, upon stopovers in Gaza, of looming humanitarian and health crises to rock the enclave due last summer’s Israeli military aggression and the ongoing closure of border crossings.
The visit comes at a time when Jordan’s state security court initiated a series of hearings indicting a group of prisoners for their support for the Palestinian resistance.
Defense lawyer Hikmat al-Rawashdeh said the case was adjourned to Monday at the request of the defense committee.
The captives’ families staged a rally in front of the state security court in protest at the detention of their sons for five months.
The rally-goers called on the Jordanian authorities to release the captives, saying support of the Palestinian resistance is an honor that deserves to be “revered” rather than prosecuted as an act of “terrorism.”
The list of indictments, filed against 16 detainees, cited charges of backing up armed groups in the West Bank and Gaza, in reference to the Palestinian resistance, along with accusations of training youths to partake in West Bank military operations by keeping touch with people having free access out of and into Jordan and the West Bank.
Head of the department of Gaza’s border crossings, Maher Abu Sabha, said a Jordanian delegation of 13 doctors arrived in the Strip via the Beit Hanoun crossing to keep tabs on the health situation in Gaza’s hospitals and evaluate the upshots of Israel’s latest war on the besieged coastal enclave.
International and UN institutions have warned, upon stopovers in Gaza, of looming humanitarian and health crises to rock the enclave due last summer’s Israeli military aggression and the ongoing closure of border crossings.
The visit comes at a time when Jordan’s state security court initiated a series of hearings indicting a group of prisoners for their support for the Palestinian resistance.
Defense lawyer Hikmat al-Rawashdeh said the case was adjourned to Monday at the request of the defense committee.
The captives’ families staged a rally in front of the state security court in protest at the detention of their sons for five months.
The rally-goers called on the Jordanian authorities to release the captives, saying support of the Palestinian resistance is an honor that deserves to be “revered” rather than prosecuted as an act of “terrorism.”
The list of indictments, filed against 16 detainees, cited charges of backing up armed groups in the West Bank and Gaza, in reference to the Palestinian resistance, along with accusations of training youths to partake in West Bank military operations by keeping touch with people having free access out of and into Jordan and the West Bank.
20 mar 2015
Many fatalities of swine flu have been reported in different cities and towns in the West Bank in the past few days causing a state of panic among the citizens in spite of the fact that the media and the official bodies consider the death toll to be within the usual rate.
Muhammad Nazzal doesn't believe the Ministry of Health assurances that the virus will not spread and clarified that the official bodies have always been reticent about problems until they become exacerbated.
He cited the case of the poultry farm in Jenin which was declared infected with avian flu about a month ago and the Israeli media hastened to announce the infection whereas the government admitted that afterwards.
Increasing concern
Iman Bani Odeh expressed her concern over the successive deaths in just a few days and said that she is not convinced that this is "normal".
Dr. Amjad Yasin confirmed that the increased mortality is a matter of concern, however what reduces anxiety levels is that the deaths happened at the end of winter; the last days of the virus spread.
He added that if these cases were reported at the beginning of the disease season, it would have been a serious problem; he also noted that some fatalities were infected with the virus more than a month ago and just died recently.
63 infections and 5 deaths
Osama Al-Najjar, the Ministry of Health in Ramallah spokesman, said in a press statement on Wednesday 18-March that from the beginning of the year 2015, 63 swine flu infected cases were reported in different areas in the West Bank.
The latest victim of this disease was Aboud Sawan, 36, the Sharia judge of Immatin town in Qalqilya, who remained about a month under treatment, he clarified.
Within the overall rate
The Director General of Primary Health Care in the Palestinian Ministry of Health As'ad Ramlawi asserted that the disease is under control and that there are clear instructions in all governorates to take any suspicious case of the disease seriously.
"Five deaths were reported," he said, adding, "Most infected citizens have received the appropriate treatment and were cured of the disease except for five cases that are still under supervision."
Ramlawi stressed, "The most that can be done is being done and some cases were transferred to hospitals in the 1948 occupied lands."
He urged all citizens to go to the hospitals and conduct the tests in case the symptoms appear, and assured that the necessary experiences to deal with the disease are available.
Muhammad Nazzal doesn't believe the Ministry of Health assurances that the virus will not spread and clarified that the official bodies have always been reticent about problems until they become exacerbated.
He cited the case of the poultry farm in Jenin which was declared infected with avian flu about a month ago and the Israeli media hastened to announce the infection whereas the government admitted that afterwards.
Increasing concern
Iman Bani Odeh expressed her concern over the successive deaths in just a few days and said that she is not convinced that this is "normal".
Dr. Amjad Yasin confirmed that the increased mortality is a matter of concern, however what reduces anxiety levels is that the deaths happened at the end of winter; the last days of the virus spread.
He added that if these cases were reported at the beginning of the disease season, it would have been a serious problem; he also noted that some fatalities were infected with the virus more than a month ago and just died recently.
63 infections and 5 deaths
Osama Al-Najjar, the Ministry of Health in Ramallah spokesman, said in a press statement on Wednesday 18-March that from the beginning of the year 2015, 63 swine flu infected cases were reported in different areas in the West Bank.
The latest victim of this disease was Aboud Sawan, 36, the Sharia judge of Immatin town in Qalqilya, who remained about a month under treatment, he clarified.
Within the overall rate
The Director General of Primary Health Care in the Palestinian Ministry of Health As'ad Ramlawi asserted that the disease is under control and that there are clear instructions in all governorates to take any suspicious case of the disease seriously.
"Five deaths were reported," he said, adding, "Most infected citizens have received the appropriate treatment and were cured of the disease except for five cases that are still under supervision."
Ramlawi stressed, "The most that can be done is being done and some cases were transferred to hospitals in the 1948 occupied lands."
He urged all citizens to go to the hospitals and conduct the tests in case the symptoms appear, and assured that the necessary experiences to deal with the disease are available.
