PHM-Exch> The maiming of Gaza

Fri May 4 13:22:24 PDT 2018

https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6644/rr [1] 

THE MAIMING FIELDS OF GAZA

Since 30 March 2018, Palestinians civilians living as refugees and
exiles in Gaza ever since they were driven out from Palestine have been
gathering in mass, unarmed demonstration about their right of return to
the homeland they lost in 1948. Confronted by the Israeli army,
including 100 snipers, the toll of dead and wounded Palestinian
civilians is mounting at a shocking rate as we write. 

There is a background to this. Firstly, there is the ongoing impact of
the 12 year long Israeli blockade of Gaza on the care and health of her
people, and the degrading of its health services. The violence and
destruction inflicted by Israeli military action in Operation Protective
Edge in 2014 and Operation Cast Lead in 2008-9 marked a distinct turning
point in the pauperization of Gaza, against a backdrop of an ever
tightening blockade since 2006.That assault in 2014 killed over 2,200
civilians, a quarter of whom were children, wounded 11.000, destroyed 15
hospitals, 45 clinics and 80,000 homes.(1) 

Since 2014 Israel has further tightened the passage of essential
medicines and equipment into Gaza, and of the entry of doctors and
experts from abroad who offer technical expertise not available locally.
Gazan hospitals have been depleted of antibiotics, anaesthetic agents,
painkillers, other essential drugs, disposables, and fuel to run
surgical theatres. (2) Patients die while waiting for permission to go
for specialist treatment outside Gaza. All elective surgery has been
cancelled since last January 2018, and 3 hospitals have closed because
of medication, equipment and fuel shortages (3). Medical personnel have
been working on reduced salaries. Gazan health professionals find it
almost impossible to get Israeli permission to travel abroad to further
their training.The regular episodic military assaults on Gaza and the
current targeting of unarmed demonstrators are part of a pattern of
periodically induced emergencies arising from Israeli policy. The
cumulative effects of the impact on healthcare provision for the general
population have been documented in multiple reports by NGOs, UN agencies
and the WHO. (4).This appears to be a strategy for the de-development of
health and social services impinging on all the population of Gaza. 

The current systematic use of excessive force towards unarmed civilians,
including children and journalists, is provoking a further crisis for
the people of Gaza. Since 30 March 2018, snipers firing military grade
ammunition have caused crippling wounds to unarmed demonstrators.(5) As
of 23 April 2018,5511 Palestinians, including at least 454 children,
have been injured by Israeli forces, including 1,739 from live
ammunition according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. As
of April 27, the death toll has reached 48 and additional hundreds
wounded. 

Even the BBC has shown films of the deliberate shooting of people who
were standing harmlessly or running away, including childrenand
journalists (6). The sniper-fire is mostly not to the head, with most of
the wounds to the lower torso and legs. Dozens have needed emergency
amputation of either one or both legs, and a further 1,300 required
immediate external fixations which will entail an estimated 7,800 hours
of subsequent complex reconstructive surgery if the limbs are to be
saved. This is calculated maiming. More may die or incur life-long
disability because of the degraded state of health service sand the
prohibition by Israel of the transfer for the seriously wounded (7). How
is Gaza to survive this situation? And meanwhile, the many that have
lost non-emergency healthcare because of the ongoing lack of medicines
and energy will be joined by many more now that all scarce resources are
going to life and limb saving efforts. 

Whilst various UN and WHO agencies have condemned Israeli actions,
Western governments have not uttered a murmur and thus bolster the
impunity Israel seems always to have enjoyed in its treatment of
Palestinian society. Others who seek to document and to draw attention
to events like this, including in medical journals, are often subject to
vilifying ad hominem attacks, as have journal editors (8). These are
matters of international shame. 

------------------- 

Derek Summerfield, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,
King's College, University of London.
David Halpin, Retired orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. Member - British
Orthopaedic Association.
Swee Ang, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon ,Barts Health,
London
Andrea Balduzzi, Researcher, University of Genoa, Italy
Franco Camandona, MD, OspedaliGaliera, Genoa, Italy
Gianni Tognoni, Mario Negri Institute, Milan, Italy,
Ireo Bono, MD, Onncologist, Savon, Italy
Marina Rui, PhD Università di Genoa, Italy
Vittorio Agnoletto, MD, University of Milan, Former MEP, Italy 

(1) 50 days of death and ddestruction. Institute for Middle East
Understanding.
https://imeu.org/article/50-days-of-death-destruction-israels-operation-...
[2] 

(2)
Emergency Delegation to the Gaza Strip. Physicians for Human Rights
Israel.
http://www.phr.org.il/en/phri-emergency-delegation-to-the-gaza-strip-apr...
[3] 

(3)
-https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180213-work-at-main-gaza-hospital-st...
[4] February 13, 2018
-http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/palestinians-die-israel-refuses-me...
[5] 

(4)
-Unnecessary loss of life http://gisha.org/updates/8742
-Humanitarian Coordinator calls for protection of Palestinian
demonstrators in Gaza alongside support for urgent humanitarian needs
-https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-coordinator-calls-protectio...
[6]
-Israel/OPT: Authorities must refrain from using excessive force in
response to Palestine Land Day protests
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/israelopt-authorities-mus...
[7] 

5) World Health Organisation Special Situation report- Gaza, Occupied
Palestinian
Territory.https://israelpalestinenews.org/who-special-situation-report-gaza-occupi...
[8] 

6)
The Palestinian Day of Return: from a short day of commemoration to a
long day of mourning K. Elessi 27 April 2018, Lancet
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30940-1
Civilians, health workers, journalists and children killed and wounded
march 30-april 27, 2018
-http://www.msf.org/en/article/palestine-msf-teams-gaza-observe-unusually...
[9]
-Horrific injuries reported among Gaza protesters
https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/828-horrific-injuries-reported-...
[10] Palestinians killed and hundreds injured in Gaza during
demonstrations along the fence
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/four-palestinians-killed-and-hundreds-in...
[11]
-New MAP film from Gaza: health workers under attack
https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/827-new-map-film-from-gaza-atta...
[12]
-Adalah& Al Mezan petition Israeli Supreme Court: Order Israeli army to
stop using snipers, live ammunition to disperse Gaza protests
http://www.mezan.org/en/post/22754/Adalah+%26+Al+Mezan+petition+Israeli+...
[13]
(7)
- https://www.ochaopt.org/theme/casualties
-https://mailchi.mp/phr/muwsh5pulz-991741?e=19b7f93641 

(8)
Pressure on 'The Lancet' for Gaza letter another example of pro-Israel
assault on freedom of expression 11 novembre 2014 |Catherine Baker pour
Mondoweisshttp://www.aurdip.fr/pressure-on-the-lancet-for-gaza.html?lang=fr

COMPETING INTERESTS: No competing interests 
-- 
 [14] 

Links:
------
[1] https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6644/rr
[2]
https://imeu.org/article/50-days-of-death-destruction-israels-operation-protective-edge
[3]
http://www.phr.org.il/en/phri-emergency-delegation-to-the-gaza-strip-april-2018/
[4]
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180213-work-at-main-gaza-hospital-stops-for-first-time-since-1964/
[5]
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/palestinians-die-israel-refuses-medical-permits-180213122412689.html
[6]
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-coordinator-calls-protection-palestinian-demonstrators-gaza-alongside-support
[7]
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/israelopt-authorities-must-refrain-from-using-excessive-force-in-response-to-palestine-land-day-protests/
[8]
https://israelpalestinenews.org/who-special-situation-report-gaza-occupied-palestine-territory-6th-april-2018/
[9]
http://www.msf.org/en/article/palestine-msf-teams-gaza-observe-unusually-severe-and-devastating-gunshot-injuries
[10]
https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/828-horrific-injuries-reported-among-gaza-protesters-Four
[11]
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/four-palestinians-killed-and-hundreds-injured-gaza-during-demonstrations-along-fence
[12]
https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/827-new-map-film-from-gaza-attacks-against-health-workers-treating-injured-protesters
[13]
http://www.mezan.org/en/post/22754/Adalah+%26+Al+Mezan+petition+Israeli+Supreme+Court%3A+Order+Israeli+army+to+stop+using+snipers%2C+live+ammunition+to+disperse+Gaza+protests
[14] http://g3w.be
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