1. CONFERENCE OF SURGERY IN PALESTINE – IV
The First Palestinian Turkish Conference in Palestine
Gaza, Palestine, March, 2015
The impact of the 50-day deliberate Israeli aggression on medical facilities and their staff in Gaza
Authors: Khamis Elessi1, Osaid Alser 2, Yousuf Al-Mokhallalati 3
1- Director, EBM Unit, Islamic University of Gaza Medical School
2- 5th Year Medical Student, Islamic University of Gaza Medical School
3- Intern Doctor – Ministry of Health (MOH), Gaza
Background:
In July 2014, Israel launched a 7-week attack on Gaza Strip (GS), resulting in unprecedented destruction, devastation and displacement. The attack came on top of a health system which had been suffering severe shortages in fuel, essential drugs and equipment caused by 7-year blockade of GS by Israel, and intermittently by Egypt. During this attack, many health facilities were targeted and some were totally destroyed.
Aim:
This study aimed to explore if Israel has intended to target Hospital Facilities and staff during this war.
Methodology:
We reviewed surveys and reports issued between 8 July and 26 August 2014 by governmental and international bodies (MOH, Amnesty International and UN) and independent NGOs to compile statistics describing the extent to which children were victims of this attack. We also interviewed key persons in many of the hospitals hit, and checked the final toll of damage sustained, their current functionality, and whether there had been any deaths or injuries. We categorized every attack by date, location, mode of attack, casualties and financial consequences.
RESULTS
The UN reported that out of 97 primary health centers (PHC) checked, 45 sustained some damage. 4 centers were completely destroyed and 13 had to be closed. 30 of the 45 damaged PHCs are still closed. 35 ambulances were destroyed.
17 of 32 hospitals reported damage. Six large hospitals had to be closed during the attacks. 3 re-opened with reduced capacity and 3 remain closed at the end of 2014.
Estimates of financial losses range between hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. Furthermore,19 health personnel were killed and 102 were injured.
CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATIONS
This widespread destruction of health facilities and personnel cannot be dismissed as ‘collateral damage’. As it has resulted from attacks by a sophisticated military machine claiming to be able to launch ‘surgically precise’ strikes, it is clear that it reflects unlawful targeting of humanitarian facilities, and so amounts to a war crime.
REFERENCES and NOTES:
MOH, Amnesty International, UN