“While F-16 jets and Apache bombers are firing artillery into the strip, we are in a state of emergency. We desperately need essential medicine at the hospital, yet our stores will cover only one month’s usage,” says Dr. Suhaila Tarazi, director of Al Ahli Arab, Gaza’s only Christian hospital. “The hospital is also in need of fuel to operate the hospital generator. The hospital generator is working only for couple of hours each day, usually during surgeries and some time during the night.” Read more about Gaza's Christian hospital critical
SOS Children’s Village in Rafah is suffering from severe food, medication and fuel shortages due to the current bombings and blockade by Israel. The situation is threatening to cause a health crisis if not lifted soon. Since the Israeli bombing and blockade started last month, SOS Children’s Village Rafah has suffered from shortages in many necessities. Lack of essential medicines and food is a main cause of concern at the SOS Children’s Village Rafah. Dr. Kamil El-Shami, project coordinator at SOS Children’s Village Rafah says, “We fear that the continuity of this situation will cause health problems for the children.” Read more about SOS Children's Village in Rafah on the brink of disaster
The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) on Friday condemned the scale of sanctions imposed on the Palestinians through the suspension of direct international aid. “In effect the Palestinian people have been subjected to economic sanctions — the first time that an occupied people have been so treated,” the FIDH said in a preliminary report following a two-week mission to the Palestinian territories. “Inevitably this economic strangulation has had a severe impact on the economic life of Palestinians and their human rights.” Read more about International Federation of Human Rights slams sanctions against Palestinians
The situation in the Gaza strip remains tense with the escalation of violence having a serious impact on the population there. The number of casualties, including civilians, is increasing by the day. The ongoing military operation in the north of the Gaza Strip has had a very serious impact on the population living there in terms of access to basic goods and services, including food. In particular, restrictions of movement and the shortage of electricity following the destruction of Gaza’s only power plant are having serious consequences. The ICRC’s head of sub-delegation in Gaza, Giorgios Georgantas, gave this interview. Read more about ICRC: "Continuing violence in Gaza increases hardship"
In the last 24 hours (since 10pm on 5 July), at least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 66 injured in the Gaza Strip. The majority of these Palestinians have been killed and injured in confrontations with the IDF in Palestinian towns and villages, including Khan Younis in the south and Beit Lahia in the north. In Beit Lahia, one Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldier was killed and another injured and airlifted on Thursday. During the last 24 hours, the IDF expanded their military incursion into the Gaza Strip. The IDF moved additional troops and armour into the former northern settlement block. Read more about Gaza Strip Situation Report No. 5
Israel may be preparing to resolve the contentious debate over the expulsion of the Palestinian refugees in 1948 - by repeating it. As Gaza’s civil infrastructure goes into meltdown, worrying parallels are emerging with the chain of events following the withdrawal of the British from Palestine. The demography of the Middle East has always been the biggest obstacle to the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel. The Zionist project was built upon the dream of a homeland in which Jews would no longer be a minority. The expulsion of Arab populations in order to found a demographically and politically Jewish state has long been an important theme in Zionist thought. Read more about Fight or Flight? History Repeats Itself in Gaza
Between 15 and 20 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks and Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) moved into the Gaza Strip from the northern border at noon today and positioned themselves in the former Nisanit settlement area. Palestinian security forces were advised to leave their positions in the area and the IDF closed Erez crossing at 11am today. The Gaza Electrical Distribution Company (GEDCO) continues to load-share the available electric supply across the Gaza Strip though power is intermittent and often not synchronised with water supply to households. Families face difficulties to secure water for personal hygiene. Read more about Gaza Strip Situation Report, 5pm
Beyond the barren Judean Mountain range, east from Jerusalem, lies the Jordan Valley, an area which receives almost no media coverage, despite being home to 52,000 Palestinians and accounting for 30% of West Bank territory. I am taken there by Stop the Wall campaign, in a battered mini bus with Egyptian music blaring out of the radio and the blazing heat burning our skin through the window. As we drop down from the mountains vast plantations of palm trees, citrus fruits and grape vines stretch as far as the eye can see. Every plantation is also surrounded by electrical fencing, barbed wire and “Danger” signs. Read more about Crime in the Valley: Life on the Other Side of Palestine
As part its assault on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Air Force attacked three bridges and the Gaza City power station, cutting power to much of the area. One of the bridges is that of the Wadi Gaza where some environmental non-governmental organization members of PENGON have implemented a solar energy powered lighting project in the area as a means to promote environmental friendly technology and to reduce pollution from fuel based power generation. Part of the project has been destroyed from the strike as well. Read more about Environmental crisis will soon erupt in Gaza
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, medical doctor, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and head of the Palestinian National Initiative, today warned of the public health and humanitarian disaster facing the Gaza Strip following an Israeli military bombardment that began on Wednesday night. He was speaking from Gaza City, where he has been stranded for 12 days since Israel sealed off Gaza’s borders. Dr. Barghouthi reported that Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s only electrical power station has left 80 percent of Strip without electricity. Read more about Palestinian parliamentarian warns of severe public health and humanitarian disaster facing Gaza
