28 nov 2016
Palestinian hospitals in the besieged Gaza strip are in an acute crisis because of a severe shortage of fuel that is needed to run the generators, threatening lives of many patients.
Fuel crisis in Gaza has embittered the lives of medical patients from time to time. They live in constant fear that the electricity will suddenly be cut suddenly, and medical devices will cease to function, aggravating the health conditions of the patients and putting their lives at risk of death.
Dr. Nabil Albrkona, the supervisor of children’s nurseries and hospitals in Gaza, said to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency that Annaser hospital for children is affected with an acute shortage of fuel for a week, and the amount of fuel that it has is only sufficient for a day.
He explained that the ICU units in the hospital are most affected, as premature babies need incubators which require electricity around the clock.
He went to say that the emergency department in the hospital receives, daily, many cases of respiratory disease which need nebulizers that run on electricity.
He also said that the hospital suffers a shortage in many types of medicines and medical equipment.
Dr. Ayman Sahbani, director of the ambulance and emergency department at Shifa Hospital, warned of running out of the fuel in the hospital, which will affect all departments, noting that the amount of the fuel is only sufficient for three days.
He noted that the most affected units in the hospital are the ICU and dialysis department.
He said that, in case the hospital is not supplied with a sufficient amount of fuel, the lives of many patients would put at risk of death, noting that the amount of fuel that being pumped from Ramallah is not sufficient.
Spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qedra, previously stated that the hospitals in Gaza are severely affected with fuel crisis, pointing out that the hospitals faces very tough choices, lest they be supplied with fuel.
Al-Qedra said that the hospitals need 420,000 liter of fuel, monthly, for eight hours a day of electricity, explaining that if the power was cut off more than eight hours, it signifies a need for more fuel.
He stressed that the real crisis has already begun in Mohammed Dura hospital for children, and the scenario will be repeated in other hospitals if the shortage continues.
The current electricity deficit in Gaza began with an Israeli airstrike on the power plant (GPP), in June of 2006, and continues to severely disrupt the delivery of basic services, undermining already vulnerable livelihoods and living conditions.
Gaza has three sources of electricity: the GPP, which has been operating at approximately half or less of its capacity (60 out of a potential 120 mega watts); and electricity purchased from Israel (120 MW) and Egypt (28 MW), via 13 crossborder feeder lines. Combined, these are able to meet less than 45 per cent of the estimated 470 MW electricity demand.
The power supply has been significantly impaired over recent years, by various factors, including the lack of funding for fuel for the GPP; the impact of unrepaired damage caused by Israeli attacks on the GPP and power networks; the lack of upgrade to the network; and the recurring malfunctioning or breakdown of the Israeli and Egyptian feeder lines.
Fuel crisis in Gaza has embittered the lives of medical patients from time to time. They live in constant fear that the electricity will suddenly be cut suddenly, and medical devices will cease to function, aggravating the health conditions of the patients and putting their lives at risk of death.
Dr. Nabil Albrkona, the supervisor of children’s nurseries and hospitals in Gaza, said to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency that Annaser hospital for children is affected with an acute shortage of fuel for a week, and the amount of fuel that it has is only sufficient for a day.
He explained that the ICU units in the hospital are most affected, as premature babies need incubators which require electricity around the clock.
He went to say that the emergency department in the hospital receives, daily, many cases of respiratory disease which need nebulizers that run on electricity.
He also said that the hospital suffers a shortage in many types of medicines and medical equipment.
Dr. Ayman Sahbani, director of the ambulance and emergency department at Shifa Hospital, warned of running out of the fuel in the hospital, which will affect all departments, noting that the amount of the fuel is only sufficient for three days.
He noted that the most affected units in the hospital are the ICU and dialysis department.
He said that, in case the hospital is not supplied with a sufficient amount of fuel, the lives of many patients would put at risk of death, noting that the amount of fuel that being pumped from Ramallah is not sufficient.
Spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qedra, previously stated that the hospitals in Gaza are severely affected with fuel crisis, pointing out that the hospitals faces very tough choices, lest they be supplied with fuel.
Al-Qedra said that the hospitals need 420,000 liter of fuel, monthly, for eight hours a day of electricity, explaining that if the power was cut off more than eight hours, it signifies a need for more fuel.
He stressed that the real crisis has already begun in Mohammed Dura hospital for children, and the scenario will be repeated in other hospitals if the shortage continues.
The current electricity deficit in Gaza began with an Israeli airstrike on the power plant (GPP), in June of 2006, and continues to severely disrupt the delivery of basic services, undermining already vulnerable livelihoods and living conditions.
Gaza has three sources of electricity: the GPP, which has been operating at approximately half or less of its capacity (60 out of a potential 120 mega watts); and electricity purchased from Israel (120 MW) and Egypt (28 MW), via 13 crossborder feeder lines. Combined, these are able to meet less than 45 per cent of the estimated 470 MW electricity demand.
The power supply has been significantly impaired over recent years, by various factors, including the lack of funding for fuel for the GPP; the impact of unrepaired damage caused by Israeli attacks on the GPP and power networks; the lack of upgrade to the network; and the recurring malfunctioning or breakdown of the Israeli and Egyptian feeder lines.
27 nov 2016
The Israeli occupation army has closed off the main access roads to Palestinian villages in northern Ramallah province for the second day on account of the wildfires rocking Halamish settlement.
A couple of days earlier, the Israeli occupation army closed off the iron gates leading to the Palestinian villages of al-Nabi Salah, Beit Rima, and Deir Ghassana.
The occupation troops further sealed off the entrances to Salfit city, along with those leading to the villages of Aboud, Deir Abu Mishaal, and Umm Safa.
A PIC news correspondent said though firefighters extinguished the wildfires in Halamish settlement at the early evening hours, the occupation army has kept a tight rein on the thoroughfares leading to Palestinian towns and villages in the area.
About 1,000 Israeli settlers were evacuated from the illegal Halamish settlement, built on Palestinian lands in Ramallah, as 45 housing units were allegedly damaged by the fire.
A couple of days earlier, the Israeli occupation army closed off the iron gates leading to the Palestinian villages of al-Nabi Salah, Beit Rima, and Deir Ghassana.
The occupation troops further sealed off the entrances to Salfit city, along with those leading to the villages of Aboud, Deir Abu Mishaal, and Umm Safa.
A PIC news correspondent said though firefighters extinguished the wildfires in Halamish settlement at the early evening hours, the occupation army has kept a tight rein on the thoroughfares leading to Palestinian towns and villages in the area.
About 1,000 Israeli settlers were evacuated from the illegal Halamish settlement, built on Palestinian lands in Ramallah, as 45 housing units were allegedly damaged by the fire.
26 nov 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) closed Saturday two roads leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil.
As a result, Palestinian movement was restricted in both directions.
The Israeli military restrictions came few hours after a group of settlers attacked Palestinian residents in the Old City, injuring three of them.
As a result, Palestinian movement was restricted in both directions.
The Israeli military restrictions came few hours after a group of settlers attacked Palestinian residents in the Old City, injuring three of them.
25 nov 2016
The Palestinian Center for Human Right (PCHR) said that Israel unprecedentedly tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip last month and imposed more restrictions on the movement of goods and citizens at border crossings.
This came in its report on the traffic of goods and individuals at Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings last October.
According to this report, the quantity of goods that were allowed into Gaza through Karam Abu Salem crossing noticeably declined.
The volume of imports in October constituted 58.3 percent of the total imports in August, while the exports did not exceed 3.1 percent of the total exports that were there before Israel imposed the siege on Gaza in June 2007.
Israel also persisted during the reporting month in banning entry of about 400 types of different supplies to Gaza, mostly basic goods and raw materials.
Besides, severe restrictions are still imposed on the delivery of building materials needed for reconstructing homes and structures in Gaza, especially those destroyed during Israel’s wars on the impoverished enclave.
Israel only allowed, of the total construction materials needed by Gaza, 2.5 percent of cement, 1.6 percent of steel and 5.3 of gravel.
There were also entry restrictions on cooking gas shipments last month, where only 34.2 percent of the population’s total needs were allowed in.
As for the movement of citizens at Beit Hanoun crossing, Israel reduced further the number of passengers allowed to cross into the Palestinian territories under its occupation.
Compared to last September, the rate of travel rejections for Gaza patients increased. Therefore, the travel of patients in October saw a decline by 33.9 percent.
Simultaneously, a large number of patients’ companions were also denied travel during the same period. The rate of their rejected travel applications dropped by 36.5 percent compared to September.
Furthermore, the rate of businessmen allowed to travel saw about a 20-percent decline, while the number of people with humanitarian cases, relatives of prisoners and elderly worshipers who visit the Aqsa Mosque on Fridays decreased by 54.3 percent, 59.7 percent and 22 percent respectively.
This came in its report on the traffic of goods and individuals at Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings last October.
According to this report, the quantity of goods that were allowed into Gaza through Karam Abu Salem crossing noticeably declined.
The volume of imports in October constituted 58.3 percent of the total imports in August, while the exports did not exceed 3.1 percent of the total exports that were there before Israel imposed the siege on Gaza in June 2007.
Israel also persisted during the reporting month in banning entry of about 400 types of different supplies to Gaza, mostly basic goods and raw materials.
Besides, severe restrictions are still imposed on the delivery of building materials needed for reconstructing homes and structures in Gaza, especially those destroyed during Israel’s wars on the impoverished enclave.
Israel only allowed, of the total construction materials needed by Gaza, 2.5 percent of cement, 1.6 percent of steel and 5.3 of gravel.
There were also entry restrictions on cooking gas shipments last month, where only 34.2 percent of the population’s total needs were allowed in.
As for the movement of citizens at Beit Hanoun crossing, Israel reduced further the number of passengers allowed to cross into the Palestinian territories under its occupation.
Compared to last September, the rate of travel rejections for Gaza patients increased. Therefore, the travel of patients in October saw a decline by 33.9 percent.
Simultaneously, a large number of patients’ companions were also denied travel during the same period. The rate of their rejected travel applications dropped by 36.5 percent compared to September.
Furthermore, the rate of businessmen allowed to travel saw about a 20-percent decline, while the number of people with humanitarian cases, relatives of prisoners and elderly worshipers who visit the Aqsa Mosque on Fridays decreased by 54.3 percent, 59.7 percent and 22 percent respectively.
22 nov 2016
Three Palestinian human rights organizations held Tuesday a press conference to announce presenting the third legal submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) titled as “Gaza Illegal Closure: Persecution and Other Inhumane Acts Committed against Civilians as a Crime Against Humanity“.
The three organizations include Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Al-Haq and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.
Both of lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, and Issam Younis, Director of Al Mezan, delivered speeches during the conference while Shawan Jabareen, Director of Al-Haq, held a meeting in the Hague with Prosecutor of the ICC, Ms Fatou Bensouda, to deliver the legal submission on behalf of the Palestinian human rights organizations.
It should be noted this is the third legal submission of its kind to the ICC by the Palestinian human rights organizations.
Sourani stressed that the human rights organizations has pledged on behalf of the victims to neither forget nor forgive and to proceed with the prosecution of Israeli war criminals for all their crimes, including the Israeli closure imposed for nearly a decade that has turned the Gaza Strip into the world’s largest open-air prison and resulted in a man-made disaster.
Sourani added that the human rights organizations’ role before the ICC will not end here, however, there are further submissions on settlement activities and the harvest of human rights organizations’ legal work before the Israeli judiciary.
Issam Younis added that today is a big day in the context of seeking justice for Palestinian victims in light of long-standing denial of justice within the Israeli judiciary. He considered resorting to the ICC as an indispensable step after the State of Palestine had acceded to the international conventions and ICC’s Rome Statute.
Younis also said that the human rights organizations consider the ICC as a resort to grant justice. He hoped that ICC would seriously investigate the Israeli crimes and then move to the most important step that is starting the court proceedings. He said, “Where to achieve justice if not in the ICC?”
Younis believes that the human rights organizations do not consider resorting to the ICC as a political conflict with the Israeli occupation, because the ICC was founded so that the victim and the criminal can square off. The liability and accountability are missing in this part of the world.
Israel has imposed a 10-year blockade on Gaza after Hamas Movement won 2006 legislative elections.
Three Israeli bloody aggressions were waged during the decade-long siege, leaving thousands of victims and tens of thousands of injured.
The three organizations include Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Al-Haq and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.
Both of lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, and Issam Younis, Director of Al Mezan, delivered speeches during the conference while Shawan Jabareen, Director of Al-Haq, held a meeting in the Hague with Prosecutor of the ICC, Ms Fatou Bensouda, to deliver the legal submission on behalf of the Palestinian human rights organizations.
It should be noted this is the third legal submission of its kind to the ICC by the Palestinian human rights organizations.
Sourani stressed that the human rights organizations has pledged on behalf of the victims to neither forget nor forgive and to proceed with the prosecution of Israeli war criminals for all their crimes, including the Israeli closure imposed for nearly a decade that has turned the Gaza Strip into the world’s largest open-air prison and resulted in a man-made disaster.
Sourani added that the human rights organizations’ role before the ICC will not end here, however, there are further submissions on settlement activities and the harvest of human rights organizations’ legal work before the Israeli judiciary.
Issam Younis added that today is a big day in the context of seeking justice for Palestinian victims in light of long-standing denial of justice within the Israeli judiciary. He considered resorting to the ICC as an indispensable step after the State of Palestine had acceded to the international conventions and ICC’s Rome Statute.
Younis also said that the human rights organizations consider the ICC as a resort to grant justice. He hoped that ICC would seriously investigate the Israeli crimes and then move to the most important step that is starting the court proceedings. He said, “Where to achieve justice if not in the ICC?”
Younis believes that the human rights organizations do not consider resorting to the ICC as a political conflict with the Israeli occupation, because the ICC was founded so that the victim and the criminal can square off. The liability and accountability are missing in this part of the world.
Israel has imposed a 10-year blockade on Gaza after Hamas Movement won 2006 legislative elections.
Three Israeli bloody aggressions were waged during the decade-long siege, leaving thousands of victims and tens of thousands of injured.
The Egyptian authorities opened Tuesday morning Rafah border crossing to allow a Palestinian media delegation to cross.
A media delegation, comprising 31 journalists, is scheduled to arrive in Cairo today to participate in a media workshop about the Palestinian cause organized by the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper.
Coordinator of the delegation Mohamed Abu Giyab affirmed that the delegation is expected to remain in Egypt for four days to take part in a workshop about the media role in supporting the Palestinian society.
Issues related to the Palestinian-Egyptian relations would also be discussed during the event, he pointed out.
The delegation is expected to visit the Egyptian Media City and other media institutions in the country, according to him.
He underlined that the four-day visit mainly aims at re-activating the Palestinian-Egyptian relations.
A media delegation, comprising 31 journalists, is scheduled to arrive in Cairo today to participate in a media workshop about the Palestinian cause organized by the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper.
Coordinator of the delegation Mohamed Abu Giyab affirmed that the delegation is expected to remain in Egypt for four days to take part in a workshop about the media role in supporting the Palestinian society.
Issues related to the Palestinian-Egyptian relations would also be discussed during the event, he pointed out.
The delegation is expected to visit the Egyptian Media City and other media institutions in the country, according to him.
He underlined that the four-day visit mainly aims at re-activating the Palestinian-Egyptian relations.
21 nov 2016
The Israeli occupation army is about to resume the construction of an apartheid fence along the borders between Gaza and the Green Line, Hebrew-speaking Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported Monday.
According to the newspaper, two Israeli companies will complete the construction of the border fence at an estimated budget of up to $55 million per every company.
The decision was opted for following a visit paid by senior officers at the Israeli war ministry to the area to inspect the first section of the wall built in the initial test phase.
The Israeli occupation army decided to construct a new offensive line along the borders with blockaded Gaza allegedly to rein in underground tunnels dug up by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
The plan includes the construction of an under-and-above-ground concrete wall at dozens of meters over and under the ground and 60 kilometers length.
According to data by the Israeli Ministry of Public Security, the apartheid wall will cost $550 million. Other parties estimated that the project will cost up to one billion and a quarter dollars.
According to the newspaper, two Israeli companies will complete the construction of the border fence at an estimated budget of up to $55 million per every company.
The decision was opted for following a visit paid by senior officers at the Israeli war ministry to the area to inspect the first section of the wall built in the initial test phase.
The Israeli occupation army decided to construct a new offensive line along the borders with blockaded Gaza allegedly to rein in underground tunnels dug up by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
The plan includes the construction of an under-and-above-ground concrete wall at dozens of meters over and under the ground and 60 kilometers length.
According to data by the Israeli Ministry of Public Security, the apartheid wall will cost $550 million. Other parties estimated that the project will cost up to one billion and a quarter dollars.