29 apr 2017
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday evening, a Palestinian child who was shot by an army sharpshooter, in the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in occupied East Jerusalem, after the soldiers chased an ambulance transporting him to the hospital.
The child, identified as Mos’ab Mahmoud Mheisin, 14, was shot by several live rounds in the lower extremities, including the groin.
One of his relatives, identified as Bashar Mheisin, said that Mo’ab was standing just a few meters away from his home, and he and his family were on their way to a social event, when clashes took place after the soldiers invaded al-‘Eesawiyya, and clashed with local youths, who hurled stones at their vehicles.
After being shot with several live rounds, a Palestinian ambulance moved him to the al-Makassed hospital, in the at-Tour area, and the doctors later decided he needs further treatment at Shaare Tzedek Israeli medical center.
Mheisin stated that the soldiers, driving a civilian car, chased the Palestinian ambulance, before stopping it, and forced the driver to park it near Augusta Victoria hospital, not far from al-Makassed.
“Then they wrote down my ID number, my phone number, and asked me many questions, before two officers accompanied us in the ambulance that was ordered to head to Sha’are Tzedek Medical Center,” he said, “The civilian car that transported secret security officers, followed us all the way there.”
Mheisin added that the incident led to at least an hour delay in transferring the child, despite his serious injuries, and his urgent need to surgery.
The child’s family managed to stay with him until midnight, but the guards forced them to leave, after questioning him and his uncle Bashar.
On Friday, an Israeli ambulance took the wounded child to the District Court in occupied Jerusalem, where a judge ordered him under interrogation at the Police station in Salaheddin Street area.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Eesawiyya, said the soldiers frequently invade the town, and fire live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, in addition to occupying rooftops to use them as firing posts during clashes.
He added that the wounded child was shot by one of the army sharpshooters, who occupied a rooftop of a residential building, one of many that were utilized by the soldiers as firing posts and monitoring towers.
Abu al-Hummus further said that the soldiers deliberately conduct provocative acts during their invasions, and resort to violent searches of homes and property, in addition to harassing the Palestinians and preventing them from even standing in front of their own homes, or on their balconies.
The child, identified as Mos’ab Mahmoud Mheisin, 14, was shot by several live rounds in the lower extremities, including the groin.
One of his relatives, identified as Bashar Mheisin, said that Mo’ab was standing just a few meters away from his home, and he and his family were on their way to a social event, when clashes took place after the soldiers invaded al-‘Eesawiyya, and clashed with local youths, who hurled stones at their vehicles.
After being shot with several live rounds, a Palestinian ambulance moved him to the al-Makassed hospital, in the at-Tour area, and the doctors later decided he needs further treatment at Shaare Tzedek Israeli medical center.
Mheisin stated that the soldiers, driving a civilian car, chased the Palestinian ambulance, before stopping it, and forced the driver to park it near Augusta Victoria hospital, not far from al-Makassed.
“Then they wrote down my ID number, my phone number, and asked me many questions, before two officers accompanied us in the ambulance that was ordered to head to Sha’are Tzedek Medical Center,” he said, “The civilian car that transported secret security officers, followed us all the way there.”
Mheisin added that the incident led to at least an hour delay in transferring the child, despite his serious injuries, and his urgent need to surgery.
The child’s family managed to stay with him until midnight, but the guards forced them to leave, after questioning him and his uncle Bashar.
On Friday, an Israeli ambulance took the wounded child to the District Court in occupied Jerusalem, where a judge ordered him under interrogation at the Police station in Salaheddin Street area.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Eesawiyya, said the soldiers frequently invade the town, and fire live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, in addition to occupying rooftops to use them as firing posts during clashes.
He added that the wounded child was shot by one of the army sharpshooters, who occupied a rooftop of a residential building, one of many that were utilized by the soldiers as firing posts and monitoring towers.
Abu al-Hummus further said that the soldiers deliberately conduct provocative acts during their invasions, and resort to violent searches of homes and property, in addition to harassing the Palestinians and preventing them from even standing in front of their own homes, or on their balconies.
28 apr 2017
Undercover soldiers of the Israeli army infiltrated, Friday, an area close to the Hebron Governmental Hospital, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and abducted five young Palestinian men.
Eyewitnesses said clashes took place between local youngsters and Israeli soldiers, who invaded the Zawiya area, and the area surrounding the hospital.
They added that undercover soldiers infiltrated the area through King Talal Street, next to the hospital, and ambushed five young men, before repeatedly assaulting them, and took them to an unknown destination.
The soldiers also threw a sound bomb at the Emergency Unit of the hospital, shattering its windows.
Eyewitnesses said clashes took place between local youngsters and Israeli soldiers, who invaded the Zawiya area, and the area surrounding the hospital.
They added that undercover soldiers infiltrated the area through King Talal Street, next to the hospital, and ambushed five young men, before repeatedly assaulting them, and took them to an unknown destination.
The soldiers also threw a sound bomb at the Emergency Unit of the hospital, shattering its windows.
27 apr 2017
Director of the International Red Cross office in Gaza, Yves Daccord, said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip is on edge of collapse due to severe electricity crisis.
Warning that the Palestinian hospitals in Gaza are to stop offering healthcare services, he said: “Hospitals are to stop serving children, women and men, due to the lack of electricity.”
Currently, electricity is only four hours on in the Gaza Strip, because of policies imposed by Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, according to Days of Palestine.
Speaking to Aljazeera.net, Daccord called for urgent international efforts to afford electricity to the Gaza Strip, where the lack of electricity touched the life of all residents.
He warned the sewage and drinking and running water plants are directly affected by the severe lack of electricity in Gaza.
Daccord refused to blame any party for the electricity crisis in Gaza.
Warning that the Palestinian hospitals in Gaza are to stop offering healthcare services, he said: “Hospitals are to stop serving children, women and men, due to the lack of electricity.”
Currently, electricity is only four hours on in the Gaza Strip, because of policies imposed by Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, according to Days of Palestine.
Speaking to Aljazeera.net, Daccord called for urgent international efforts to afford electricity to the Gaza Strip, where the lack of electricity touched the life of all residents.
He warned the sewage and drinking and running water plants are directly affected by the severe lack of electricity in Gaza.
Daccord refused to blame any party for the electricity crisis in Gaza.
21 apr 2017
The Arab Doctors Union - Palestine Branch warned on Friday of serious consequences in the health situation in the Gaza Strip due to the current electricity and fuel crisis.
The Union said in a statement that if the current crisis continues, serious repercussions will ensue in the health condition of hundreds of patients in the various hospital departments with only 4 hours of electricity a day instead of the 8-hour schedule in which power is supplied and cut in 8-hour intervals.
The Union affirmed that the Gaza Strip has entered a new phase starting from 15th April 2017 as a result of the current electricity and fuel crisis, which will cause deterioration in the health services of hospitals and health centers needed by more than two million people in the besieged coastal enclave.
The Gaza hospitals need 450,000 liters of fuel per month in the normal situation to operate 87 generators, and each hour of power outage requires 2,000 liters of fuel for hospitals, the Union pointed out.
It warned that the current crisis threatens the lives of 100 children in nurseries, 113 intensive care patients and 620 kidney failure patients including 29 children. 11 maternity rooms and 40 operation rooms are at the risk of being closed.
It added that the continuation of the fuel crisis will lead to ruining 500 blood units and affect hundreds of sensitive drugs, laboratory materials and vaccinations stored in refrigerators as well as the emergency departments in hospitals.
The Arab Doctors Union appealed to the international organizations and concerned parties to intervene urgently and immediately to provide the Gaza hospitals with the needed quantities of fuel to run generators.
The Union said in a statement that if the current crisis continues, serious repercussions will ensue in the health condition of hundreds of patients in the various hospital departments with only 4 hours of electricity a day instead of the 8-hour schedule in which power is supplied and cut in 8-hour intervals.
The Union affirmed that the Gaza Strip has entered a new phase starting from 15th April 2017 as a result of the current electricity and fuel crisis, which will cause deterioration in the health services of hospitals and health centers needed by more than two million people in the besieged coastal enclave.
The Gaza hospitals need 450,000 liters of fuel per month in the normal situation to operate 87 generators, and each hour of power outage requires 2,000 liters of fuel for hospitals, the Union pointed out.
It warned that the current crisis threatens the lives of 100 children in nurseries, 113 intensive care patients and 620 kidney failure patients including 29 children. 11 maternity rooms and 40 operation rooms are at the risk of being closed.
It added that the continuation of the fuel crisis will lead to ruining 500 blood units and affect hundreds of sensitive drugs, laboratory materials and vaccinations stored in refrigerators as well as the emergency departments in hospitals.
The Arab Doctors Union appealed to the international organizations and concerned parties to intervene urgently and immediately to provide the Gaza hospitals with the needed quantities of fuel to run generators.
11 apr 2017
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), on Tuesday, called upon the UK government to help ensure that the lives of Palestinians in Gaza are not put at greater risk as a result of the critical lack of fuel, there.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the fuel at its disposal to run generators at hospitals and other medical facilities will deplete in about one week. There is a tangible risk of operating theatres and hospital departments having to close, endangering the lives of patients.
Fikr Shalltoot, Director of Programmes for MAP in Gaza warned: “The lack of fuel at Gaza hospitals is as dangerous as the lack of life-saving drug items. The absence of either one will cause the death of seriously ill patients.”
“Most at risk are the lives of seriously ill patients in intensive care, and in neonatal and kidney dialysis units which lack the fuel to keep their ventilators and hemodialysis equipment running.”
MAP, a British humanitarian and development organisation, is calling on the UK government and the international community to urgently intervene, to avert the worsening crisis. In the immediate and short term, adequate emergency funding for fuel must be delivered to Gaza to sustain Gaza’s already overstretched health services.
PNN further reports that chronic fuel shortages mean that the only power plant in Gaza is only able to operate at or below half capacity. Hospitals, therefore, usually receive between eight to 12 hours of mains electricity per day.
Electricity outside of these hours must be provided by generators, fuel for which is dangerously close to depletion. The constant fluctuations in the power supply have, furthermore, resulted in damage to sensitive medical equipment such as X-rays, neonatal incubators and cardiac monitors.
The root causes of the crisis are the decade of closure and blockade imposed by Israel, and the ongoing separation of the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The international community is being urged to prioritize efforts to resolve these issues, and the 50-year occupation of which they are components, in order to resolve the long-term humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza.
The World Health Organisation has led a call from agencies working on health issues in Gaza for international assistance to alleviate the crisis.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the fuel at its disposal to run generators at hospitals and other medical facilities will deplete in about one week. There is a tangible risk of operating theatres and hospital departments having to close, endangering the lives of patients.
Fikr Shalltoot, Director of Programmes for MAP in Gaza warned: “The lack of fuel at Gaza hospitals is as dangerous as the lack of life-saving drug items. The absence of either one will cause the death of seriously ill patients.”
“Most at risk are the lives of seriously ill patients in intensive care, and in neonatal and kidney dialysis units which lack the fuel to keep their ventilators and hemodialysis equipment running.”
MAP, a British humanitarian and development organisation, is calling on the UK government and the international community to urgently intervene, to avert the worsening crisis. In the immediate and short term, adequate emergency funding for fuel must be delivered to Gaza to sustain Gaza’s already overstretched health services.
PNN further reports that chronic fuel shortages mean that the only power plant in Gaza is only able to operate at or below half capacity. Hospitals, therefore, usually receive between eight to 12 hours of mains electricity per day.
Electricity outside of these hours must be provided by generators, fuel for which is dangerously close to depletion. The constant fluctuations in the power supply have, furthermore, resulted in damage to sensitive medical equipment such as X-rays, neonatal incubators and cardiac monitors.
The root causes of the crisis are the decade of closure and blockade imposed by Israel, and the ongoing separation of the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The international community is being urged to prioritize efforts to resolve these issues, and the 50-year occupation of which they are components, in order to resolve the long-term humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza.
The World Health Organisation has led a call from agencies working on health issues in Gaza for international assistance to alleviate the crisis.
10 apr 2017
Head of the administrative board at al-Maqassid Hospital, Arafat al-Hadami, slammed the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) for rescinding the working permits of Gazan medics.
“We have doctors that have been working for so long at the hospital but were recently banned from entering Occupied Jerusalem under the security pretext,” said Dr. al-Hadami. “This is an alarming humanitarian issue that deeply affects health services at the hospital.”
According to al-Hadami seven Gazan doctors have been banned from occupied Jerusalem, resulting in an acute shortage in pediatricians, practitioners, and cardiovascular medics.
Al-Hadami dubbed the ban “oppressive” and “immoral.”
The doctor further sounded the alarm over the financial crisis endured by the hospital, whose debts have hit 80 million shekels so far.
“We have doctors that have been working for so long at the hospital but were recently banned from entering Occupied Jerusalem under the security pretext,” said Dr. al-Hadami. “This is an alarming humanitarian issue that deeply affects health services at the hospital.”
According to al-Hadami seven Gazan doctors have been banned from occupied Jerusalem, resulting in an acute shortage in pediatricians, practitioners, and cardiovascular medics.
Al-Hadami dubbed the ban “oppressive” and “immoral.”
The doctor further sounded the alarm over the financial crisis endured by the hospital, whose debts have hit 80 million shekels so far.
8 apr 2017
The Palestinian Doctors Syndicate accused Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah of ignoring the demands of doctors in the West Bank and procrastinating in the implementation of what was agreed upon in the dialogue sessions held recently.
The syndicate announced its intention to wage a protest strike starting from Sunday until their demands were met.
In a statement on Saturday, the syndicate said their demands include ensuring justice among doctors based on specialization. The government has been stalling in answering their demands, it highlighted.
The syndicate announced that Health Ministry doctors in the first protest week will leave work after 12:00 noon on April 9, 11, and 13.
In the next week, doctors will leave their offices from 10:00 a.m. on April 18 and 20. While, in the third week, doctors, except for those working in emergency wards, will not head to work on April 23, 25 and 27, the statement underlined.
The syndicate announced its intention to wage a protest strike starting from Sunday until their demands were met.
In a statement on Saturday, the syndicate said their demands include ensuring justice among doctors based on specialization. The government has been stalling in answering their demands, it highlighted.
The syndicate announced that Health Ministry doctors in the first protest week will leave work after 12:00 noon on April 9, 11, and 13.
In the next week, doctors will leave their offices from 10:00 a.m. on April 18 and 20. While, in the third week, doctors, except for those working in emergency wards, will not head to work on April 23, 25 and 27, the statement underlined.
30 mar 2017
Walla Hebrew news website reported that Israeli Shin Bet has been banning for weeks Gazan doctors from entering Occupied Jerusalem for working in al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital in Jerusalem.
The hospital management received negative replies to applications for seven entry passes for doctors from Gaza to access al-Makassed hospital which lacks human resources especially specialized physicians. The eighth application has not been answered yet, the website pointed out.
Among the banned staff were doctors, some of them work in the ICU Section, and nurses who have been working in the hospital for about 30 years.
Ran Goldstein, Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights, opined that preventing doctors from working in Occupied Jerusalem is a political matter that negatively impacts the health of the Palestinian people and has nothing to do with security.
The hospital management received negative replies to applications for seven entry passes for doctors from Gaza to access al-Makassed hospital which lacks human resources especially specialized physicians. The eighth application has not been answered yet, the website pointed out.
Among the banned staff were doctors, some of them work in the ICU Section, and nurses who have been working in the hospital for about 30 years.
Ran Goldstein, Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights, opined that preventing doctors from working in Occupied Jerusalem is a political matter that negatively impacts the health of the Palestinian people and has nothing to do with security.
16 mar 2017
Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza warned on Thursday of a new fuel shortage in its facilities in two months. It appealed to donor international and Arab institutions for urgent intervention in order to guarantee enough fuel amounts at hospitals and primary health centers.
The spokesman of the Ministry, Ashraf al-Qudra, told the PIC reporter that his ministry complains of continuous shortage in fuel supplies for power generators.
The Palestinian official said that the Ministry consumes 450,000 liters of fuel every month distributed over 13 hospitals including 3 grand medical compounds that use too much fuel when power cut offs exceed 8 hours a day.
The besieged Gaza Strip experiences every now and then a power crisis that leave it with only 6 to 8 hours daily of power connection.
The spokesman of the Ministry, Ashraf al-Qudra, told the PIC reporter that his ministry complains of continuous shortage in fuel supplies for power generators.
The Palestinian official said that the Ministry consumes 450,000 liters of fuel every month distributed over 13 hospitals including 3 grand medical compounds that use too much fuel when power cut offs exceed 8 hours a day.
The besieged Gaza Strip experiences every now and then a power crisis that leave it with only 6 to 8 hours daily of power connection.