Tag: Gaza - Page 236 - International Solidarity Movement

Israeli Navy pull in towards Gaza Port – Heavy Israeli shelling of Gaza reported

International volunteers eyewitness Israeli bombings in Gaza

2:30am 29th December 2008 – Canadian Human Rights Activist Eva Bartlett has reported that the Israeli attacks into the Gaza Strip have escalated again, with the Israeli Navy shelling Gaza.

“The Israeli Navy have pulled in towards Gaza Port and are shelling the coastal area. The shelling is incredibly heavy.” Eva Bartlett – International Solidarity Movement

Earlier Eva Bartlett had reported from Al-Shifa intensive care unit in Gaza;

“Dr Khaled from Shifa hospital’s intensive care unit told me today around 10am that the majority of cases in the ICU are critical, with approximately 80% who will not survive. At that time, the 24 beds in the ICU were the fourth shift of critically injured, the former three having died from their injuries.”

Human rights defenders from Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Poland Spain and Lebanon are currently present in Gaza, and are witnessing the current Israeli attacks first hand.

Spanish citizen, Alberto Arce, said on Sunday evening that an international group would be accompanying fire-fighters in the Strip; “People are expecting more Israeli attacks. The fire-fighters here in Gaza have an impossible job dealing with the never-ending fires from Israeli air-strikes.”

Due to Israel’s policy of denying international media and aid agencies access to Gaza, they arrived in the coastal strip on the Free Gaza Movement’s boats. These voyages have broken the Israeli blockade five times now, and a sixth is due to depart from Cyprus on Monday.

The Free Gaza Movement boat “Dignity” will be leaving Monday afternoon on an emergency mission to Gaza, loaded with three or four tons of urgently needed medical supplies.

On board are four physicians, including Dr. Elena Theoharous, a surgeon and Member of Parliament in Cyprus. Also going are Cynthia McKinney, a former US Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, and Sami al-Hajj, an Al Jazeera reporter and former detainee at Guantanamo Bay.

Palestinians destroy sections of the wall separating Gaza and Egypt following intense Israeli attacks in Rafah

Parts of the wall between Gaza and Egypt were torn down according to International Human Rights Observers witnessing and documenting the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Video by ISM Gaza Strip

British Human Rights Observer, Jenny Linnel, who is working with the International Solidarity Movement, was in Yibnah Camp in Rafah and confirmed that the Palestinian resistance has destroyed sections of the wall that separates Gazan Rafah from Egyptian Rafah.

“They have blown up part of the wall. The Israeli’s bombed the border half an hour ago. Soon after there was a loud explosion and parts of the wall came down. Many have passed through the border,” said Linnel.

“We heard shooting and we have seen an ambulance. We have heard that someone is hurt. People are saying that the Egyptians have been shooting at people crossing the border.”

Human Rights Defenders from various countries are present in Gaza and are witnessing and documenting the current Israeli attacks. Due to Israel’s policy of denying access to the Occupied Gaza Strip for international media, human rights activists and aid agencies, they have arrived in the strip on the Free Gaza Movement’s boats. These voyages have repeatedly broken the Israeli blockade .

Gaza: Silence is not an option

By Eva Bartlett
Photos below

To view Eva Bartlett’s blog please click here

Shifa ICU: a glimpse of hospital critical injuries

Dr Khaled from Shifa hospital ICU told me the majority of cases in the intensive car unit are critical. He estimates 80% will not survive. At the time that we spoke the ICU was handling its 4th shift of critically injured. The ICU normally has 12 beds, but the hospital expanded it to 24 using beds and rooms from other departments.

There is a critical need for more ICU beds, as well as mechanical ventilators. The majority of injuries were “multi-explosive injuries” with a concentration of head injuries (“head trauma”) resulting from the explosions and from shrapnel in the brain. Other injuries include abdominal injuries resulting in internal bleeding caused by shrapnel in the abdomen. The majority of head injuries are not expected to survive, and those who do are expected to have brain damage and some with full paralysis (quadriplegia). Because of the shortage of spaces and equipment, the ICU has turned patients away. Others have been waiting in the reception area until a patient dies and the space can be used.

Among the critically wounded were a number of children and minors:

A six year old down’s syndrom with brain trauma
An 11 year old with brain trauma, not likely to survive
A 13 year old with a head injury (“brain matter out”)
A 21 year old, leg amputated, various shrapnel injuries over body and face, loss of hearing in one ear
A 21 year old, braindead, hopeless case
A man in his fifties, neither police nor resistance
A man in his forties, on the beach when struck, head trauma (“brain matter out”)
A man in his fifties, head trauma
A 53 year old, shrapnel in the brain, no surgery possible
Aany other men in their 20s and 30s, head injuries (shrapnel in brain), and abdominal injuries some policemen.

The ISM will continue to post updates on the situation in Gaza. Eva Bartlett, on the ground in Gaza, will also post directly to http://ingaza.wordpress.com/.

Ni’lin holds two demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza

Ni’lin 27th December 2008

In solidarity with the Gaza, over 350 residents of Ni’lin and 8 international solidarity activists marched towards the checkpoint at the entrance of the village at 6:15pm. After the prayer, hundreds gathered in the center of the village. They marched together to protest the brutal murder of over 210 Gazans and injury of over 340 as a result of Israeli Air Force raids earlier this morning. The group was dispersed when Israeli soldiers began to shoot tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Residents remained on the street until 8pm expressing their desire for an end to killings.

This demonstration is a continuation of an earlier one at the checkpoint. At around 1pm, about 40 residents along with 8 international solidarity activists protested the violent attacks on Gaza. The soldiers responded by shooting tear gas canisters and rubber coated steel bullets directly towards demonstrators.

Two Palestinians were hit by tear gas canisters and three Palestinians were shot with rubber coated steel bullets, along with one Spanish solidarity activist. Most of the demonstrators suffered from the pepper laced tear gas. The first demonstration of the day ended at 5:30pm.

Ni’lin is severely affected by the Israeli Occupation. The construction of the Apartheid Wall will annex much of Ni’lin’s land. Their resistance is manifested through the many demonstrations against the wall and checkpoint that take place every week.

Free Gaza Movement: Dignity to sail emergency medical supplies to Gaza

To view the Free Gaza Movement website click here

Sunday 28th December 2008

(Larnaca, Cyprus) The Free Gaza movement will hold a press conference at 16:30 Monday, December 29 at the port in Larnaca. We are sending in the DIGNITY on an emergency mission of mercy to Gaza loaded with three to four tons of urgently needed medical supplies.

On board are four physicians, including Dr. Elena Theoharous, a surgeon and Member of Parliament in Cyprus. Also going are The Hon. Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, and Sami al-Hajj, an Al Jazeera reporter and former detainee at Guantanamo.

Dr Khaled from Shifa hospital ICU in Gaza City told us on Saturday that the majority of cases are critical shrapnel wounds from Israeli gunboats and helicopters, with an approximate 80% who will not survive.

Eliza Ernshire, one of the Free Gaza organizers says, “We have calls for surgeons willing to go into Gaza and work there throughout this crisis. The doctors inside are exhausted and unable to cope with the number of wounded. We will do our best to send in the DIGNITY as often as we can over the next few weeks, bringing in physicians and medical supplies.

The media is welcome to come to the port at 16:30 to interview the passengers.

For more information, contact.

(Gaza) Ewa Jasiewicz, +970 598 700 497 / freelance@mailworks.org
(Cyprus) Eliza Ernshire, +357 99 081 767/ eliza.ernshire@gmail.com
(U.S.) Ramzi Kysia, +1 703 994 5422/ rrkysia@yahoo.com

The Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group, sent two boats to Gaza in August 2008. These were the first international boats to land in the port in 41 years. Since August, four more voyages were successful, taking Parliamentarians, human rights workers, physicians, and other dignitaries to witness the effects of Israel’s draconian policies on the civilians of Gaza.