4 apr 2020

Israeli forces stand guard at checkpoints in the Old City of Jerusalem, during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, ahead of the Friday Prayer in Jerusalem on March 20, 2020
In response to a humanitarian appeal launched by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza to obtain $23 million in urgent aid, in addition to medicine and medical equipment including 250 respirators in order to deal with the coronavirus in the besieged enclave, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett announced that no humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza, until the release of Israeli soldiers, or their remains, captured by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
“There is talk of the humanitarian world in Gaza – Israel also has humanitarian needs, which are mainly the recovery of the fallen,” Bennett disclosed. “I think that we need to enter a broad dialogue about Gaza’s and our humanitarian needs. It would not be right to disconnect these things… and certainly, our hearts would be open to many things,” he added.
Linking the issue of the Israeli soldiers, or remains of soldiers, to the issue of the urgent humanitarian needs for the Gaza Strip related to the fight against the coronavirus, is nothing short of deceptive.
It is nothing more than an attempt by Bennett to paint a glowing image of himself and his country, and convey that they are concerned with humanity, while the Gazan rulers are portrayed as savages due to withholding two, or the remains of two, Israelis in Gaza.
The two Israeli soldiers were captured or killed while they were in their tanks bombing Palestinian homes and killing civilians in 2014, when the 51-day Israeli offensive killed more than 2,260 Palestinians, including more than 400 children and nearly the same number of women, wounding more than 11,000 others.
If two Israeli soldiers are being held by the Palestinians and the Israeli defence minister wanted them to be released on a humanitarian grounds, why did not he release 5,000 Palestinian prisoners living in dire conditions in Israeli jails, including 43 women and girls, 250 boys and over 1,000 patients, with at least 250 suffering from serious conditions?
Several rights groups have warned that the Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails are vulnerable to contracting coronavirus, given the overcrowded prisons and bad ventilation, with a severe lack of hygiene. On Thursday, the Israeli Prison Service let out six Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison.
They must have contracted the coronavirus because a prisoner from the same prison had been recently released and tested positive for the virus. Rights groups have reiterated several times that Israel is imposing a media blackout regarding the news about the coronavirus among prisoners, in order not to underscore their humanitarian crimes.
Meanwhile, if the Israeli defence minister wanted the release of the Israeli soldiers captured in Gaza on humanitarian grounds, why did he not lift his country’s strict and illegal siege imposed on the Gaza Strip in 2007?
Why did he not look at the number of Palestinians who died due to the lack of medical equipment, proper healthcare and medicine as a result of his country’s siege? Why did he not look at the thousands of Palestinians who are still displaced because they could not rebuild their homes which were destroyed by his army in 2014? Why did he not consider the hundreds of children, mothers and fathers who have been waiting to be reunited with their loved ones who have been imprisoned by his country?
Despite all of this, the Israeli defence minister must know that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip put all their hostilities with the Israeli occupation aside and provided Israel with millions of medical face masks, while it faces an increasing outbreak of the coronavirus.
Hassan Shehata, owner of a sewing factory in Gaza, told AFP that the Israeli companies sent materials to him, and his factory is to make millions of medical masks for Israel. The owner of another factory in Gaza revealed that he has already signed contracts with Israeli business partners to provide one million masks and 50,000 protective suits by the end of April.
Mr Bennett, we do not want people like you, with the blood of innocent people on their hands, to teach us, the Palestinians, lessons about humanity and morals. Please, do not paint an innocent image of you and your unscrupulous country at the expense of our suffering inflicted by you and your violent state. Enough of your merchandising of humanity on the world, while you remain inhumane.
In response to a humanitarian appeal launched by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza to obtain $23 million in urgent aid, in addition to medicine and medical equipment including 250 respirators in order to deal with the coronavirus in the besieged enclave, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett announced that no humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza, until the release of Israeli soldiers, or their remains, captured by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
“There is talk of the humanitarian world in Gaza – Israel also has humanitarian needs, which are mainly the recovery of the fallen,” Bennett disclosed. “I think that we need to enter a broad dialogue about Gaza’s and our humanitarian needs. It would not be right to disconnect these things… and certainly, our hearts would be open to many things,” he added.
Linking the issue of the Israeli soldiers, or remains of soldiers, to the issue of the urgent humanitarian needs for the Gaza Strip related to the fight against the coronavirus, is nothing short of deceptive.
It is nothing more than an attempt by Bennett to paint a glowing image of himself and his country, and convey that they are concerned with humanity, while the Gazan rulers are portrayed as savages due to withholding two, or the remains of two, Israelis in Gaza.
The two Israeli soldiers were captured or killed while they were in their tanks bombing Palestinian homes and killing civilians in 2014, when the 51-day Israeli offensive killed more than 2,260 Palestinians, including more than 400 children and nearly the same number of women, wounding more than 11,000 others.
If two Israeli soldiers are being held by the Palestinians and the Israeli defence minister wanted them to be released on a humanitarian grounds, why did not he release 5,000 Palestinian prisoners living in dire conditions in Israeli jails, including 43 women and girls, 250 boys and over 1,000 patients, with at least 250 suffering from serious conditions?
Several rights groups have warned that the Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails are vulnerable to contracting coronavirus, given the overcrowded prisons and bad ventilation, with a severe lack of hygiene. On Thursday, the Israeli Prison Service let out six Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison.
They must have contracted the coronavirus because a prisoner from the same prison had been recently released and tested positive for the virus. Rights groups have reiterated several times that Israel is imposing a media blackout regarding the news about the coronavirus among prisoners, in order not to underscore their humanitarian crimes.
Meanwhile, if the Israeli defence minister wanted the release of the Israeli soldiers captured in Gaza on humanitarian grounds, why did he not lift his country’s strict and illegal siege imposed on the Gaza Strip in 2007?
Why did he not look at the number of Palestinians who died due to the lack of medical equipment, proper healthcare and medicine as a result of his country’s siege? Why did he not look at the thousands of Palestinians who are still displaced because they could not rebuild their homes which were destroyed by his army in 2014? Why did he not consider the hundreds of children, mothers and fathers who have been waiting to be reunited with their loved ones who have been imprisoned by his country?
Despite all of this, the Israeli defence minister must know that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip put all their hostilities with the Israeli occupation aside and provided Israel with millions of medical face masks, while it faces an increasing outbreak of the coronavirus.
Hassan Shehata, owner of a sewing factory in Gaza, told AFP that the Israeli companies sent materials to him, and his factory is to make millions of medical masks for Israel. The owner of another factory in Gaza revealed that he has already signed contracts with Israeli business partners to provide one million masks and 50,000 protective suits by the end of April.
Mr Bennett, we do not want people like you, with the blood of innocent people on their hands, to teach us, the Palestinians, lessons about humanity and morals. Please, do not paint an innocent image of you and your unscrupulous country at the expense of our suffering inflicted by you and your violent state. Enough of your merchandising of humanity on the world, while you remain inhumane.

The Health Ministry says over the past 24 hours there has been a 10% increase in the number of COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms and in the number of people needing respiratory support
Health officials said Saturday they've recorded a significant increase in coronavirus patients needing ventilator support as the country's total number of COVID-19 cases now standing at 7,851.
The Health Ministry said both the number of patients in serious condition and the number of people needing support of ventilator machines have risen by 10% each.
Of the latest number, 126 are in serious condition, including 108 patients on ventilators, while 165 people remain in moderate condition. Another 7,059 people have mild symptoms and 458 have made a full recovery.
Israel's coronavirus death toll up to 44, with 7,589 confirmed cases
The Health Ministry says among the victims are two women from a nursing home in Be'er Sheva where 3 other coronavirus fatalities also lived; condition of 22-year-old man, Israel's youngest patient with serious symptoms continues to deteriorate
Israel's coronavirus death toll up to 42, with 7,589 confirmed cases
The Health Ministry confirms 88-year-old and 67-year-old women with underlying health problems passed away from complications related to COVID-19; condition of 22-year-old man, Israel's youngest patient with serious symptoms continues to deteriorate
Another two people have died from complications related to coronavirus, bringing Israel's total to 42, health officials confirmed Saturday. The Health Ministry added the country's total number of COVID-19 patients now stands at 7,589.
The latest victims are an 88-year-old woman passed away at Ichilov Hospital where she was hospitalized and a 67-year-old woman who died at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Both women suffered from underlying health conditions.
On Friday, 70-year-old woman succumbed to complications from the illness on Friday evening at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The hospital said that she had suffered from existing health issues.
A few hours earlier, Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
In addition, 22-year-old Afik Swisa - Israel's youngest coronavirus patient in serious condition - has been transferred to Ichilov Hospital from Assuta Ashdod Medical Center after his condition has deteriorated.
"In coordination with the family, it was decided to transfer him to Ichilov Hospital to continue the ECMO treatment (extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support),” said the hospital in a statement.
The Health Ministry said since the evening hours the number of COVID-19 cases has risen by 161.
Of that number, 115 people are in serious condition, including 98 patients on ventilators, while 166 people remain in moderate condition. Another 6,839 people have mild symptoms and 427 have made a full recovery.
Hospitals are treating 747 patients, while 4,436 people are fighting the virus at home. Another 718 people are currently in specially designated hotels and 1,220 are awaiting a decision on whether they will be treated.
The ministry said on Friday that 2,874 members of the medical profession are currently in isolation, including 631 doctors and 1,023 nurses.
Health officials said Saturday they've recorded a significant increase in coronavirus patients needing ventilator support as the country's total number of COVID-19 cases now standing at 7,851.
The Health Ministry said both the number of patients in serious condition and the number of people needing support of ventilator machines have risen by 10% each.
Of the latest number, 126 are in serious condition, including 108 patients on ventilators, while 165 people remain in moderate condition. Another 7,059 people have mild symptoms and 458 have made a full recovery.
Israel's coronavirus death toll up to 44, with 7,589 confirmed cases
The Health Ministry says among the victims are two women from a nursing home in Be'er Sheva where 3 other coronavirus fatalities also lived; condition of 22-year-old man, Israel's youngest patient with serious symptoms continues to deteriorate
Israel's coronavirus death toll up to 42, with 7,589 confirmed cases
The Health Ministry confirms 88-year-old and 67-year-old women with underlying health problems passed away from complications related to COVID-19; condition of 22-year-old man, Israel's youngest patient with serious symptoms continues to deteriorate
Another two people have died from complications related to coronavirus, bringing Israel's total to 42, health officials confirmed Saturday. The Health Ministry added the country's total number of COVID-19 patients now stands at 7,589.
The latest victims are an 88-year-old woman passed away at Ichilov Hospital where she was hospitalized and a 67-year-old woman who died at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Both women suffered from underlying health conditions.
On Friday, 70-year-old woman succumbed to complications from the illness on Friday evening at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The hospital said that she had suffered from existing health issues.
A few hours earlier, Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
In addition, 22-year-old Afik Swisa - Israel's youngest coronavirus patient in serious condition - has been transferred to Ichilov Hospital from Assuta Ashdod Medical Center after his condition has deteriorated.
"In coordination with the family, it was decided to transfer him to Ichilov Hospital to continue the ECMO treatment (extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support),” said the hospital in a statement.
The Health Ministry said since the evening hours the number of COVID-19 cases has risen by 161.
Of that number, 115 people are in serious condition, including 98 patients on ventilators, while 166 people remain in moderate condition. Another 6,839 people have mild symptoms and 427 have made a full recovery.
Hospitals are treating 747 patients, while 4,436 people are fighting the virus at home. Another 718 people are currently in specially designated hotels and 1,220 are awaiting a decision on whether they will be treated.
The ministry said on Friday that 2,874 members of the medical profession are currently in isolation, including 631 doctors and 1,023 nurses.
3 apr 2020

Four people in their 70s succumbed to complications from coronavirus Friday, bringing Israel's death toll from the epidemic to 40.
A 70-year-old woman succumbed to complications from the illness on Friday evening at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The hospital said that she had suffered from existing health issues.
Health Ministry said Friday evening that Israel now has 7,428 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of more than 400 since the morning.
Of that number, 113 people are in serious condition, including 96 patients on ventilators. Another 6,718 people have mild symptoms and 403 have made a full recovery.
Israel's coronavirus death toll reaches 39
Three men in their 70s succumbed to complications from coronavirus Friday, bringing Israel's death toll from the epidemic to 39.
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed Friday afternoon the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
Health Ministry said Friday morning that Israel now has 7,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of 73 since Thursday evening.
Israel's coronavirus death toll rises to 36, cases up to 6,857
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed Friday afternoon the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
A 71-year-old man died Friday of complications relating to coronavirus, bringing the country's death toll in the epidemic to 37, as the Health Ministry said the country now has 7,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of 73 since Thursday evening.
The man, who was being treated at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, had significant existing health problems.
The Health Ministry said Friday that 115 people are in serious condition, including 95 patients on ventilators. Another 6,378 people have mild symptoms and 357 have made a full recovery.
Hospitals are treating 732 patients, while 3,929 people are fighting the virus at home. Another 717 people are currently in specially designated hotels and 1,259 are awaiting a decision on whether they will be treated.
The death toll in Israel continues to rise, with 10 people succumbing to complications from the virus on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases also rose by 689 on Thursday.
A 70-year-old woman succumbed to complications from the illness on Friday evening at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The hospital said that she had suffered from existing health issues.
Health Ministry said Friday evening that Israel now has 7,428 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of more than 400 since the morning.
Of that number, 113 people are in serious condition, including 96 patients on ventilators. Another 6,718 people have mild symptoms and 403 have made a full recovery.
Israel's coronavirus death toll reaches 39
Three men in their 70s succumbed to complications from coronavirus Friday, bringing Israel's death toll from the epidemic to 39.
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed Friday afternoon the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
Health Ministry said Friday morning that Israel now has 7,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of 73 since Thursday evening.
Israel's coronavirus death toll rises to 36, cases up to 6,857
Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba confirmed Friday afternoon the death of 79-year-old man, shortly after 75-year-old patient died at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera. On Friday morning, a 71-year-old man died at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
A 71-year-old man died Friday of complications relating to coronavirus, bringing the country's death toll in the epidemic to 37, as the Health Ministry said the country now has 7,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - a rise of 73 since Thursday evening.
The man, who was being treated at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, had significant existing health problems.
The Health Ministry said Friday that 115 people are in serious condition, including 95 patients on ventilators. Another 6,378 people have mild symptoms and 357 have made a full recovery.
Hospitals are treating 732 patients, while 3,929 people are fighting the virus at home. Another 717 people are currently in specially designated hotels and 1,259 are awaiting a decision on whether they will be treated.
The death toll in Israel continues to rise, with 10 people succumbing to complications from the virus on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases also rose by 689 on Thursday.
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