Gaza Clinic for Infants and Mothers Bombed by Israeli Army

by Karen Hatter | January 15, 2009 at 10:44 am

545 views | 71 Recommendations | 44 comments

From BBC News:

Christian Aid said the destroyed clinic, which was located in a two-storey building in the Shujaiya district of Gaza City, provided free primary healthcare to the local community, including mother and child clinics, neo-natal care, family planning.
It also included a laboratory for medical tests and a small dispensary. On Saturday evening, the building's owners received a telephone call from the Israeli military telling to evacuate within 15 minutes, Christian Aid said. The family living in the apartment on the floor above the clinic managed to get out just before a warning shot was fired by an Israeli air force jet, it added. Moments later, the building - which the charity said was clearly marked with the insignia of the Red Cross and had ambulances parked outside - was struck by a missile fired by the aircraft. The clinic was completely destroyed in the attack, along with valuable medical equipment, including ultrasound machines, laboratory apparatus, and computers, which are not freely available in Gaza. Constantine Dabbagh, executive director of the NECC in Gaza, said another of its clinics had been closed for two weeks because the owners of a neighbouring building had received repeated warnings from the Israeli military that it was about to be bombed.

Also at NowPublic : Eyewitness accounts provided by Sameh Habeeb, trapped in Gaza, with details of the destruction, injuries and deaths during the current Israeli invasion.

The Gaza Strip and Palestinian Territories are densely populated area with 45% of the civilians in the region children. Women and children have suffered heavy fatalities and deaths during Israel's air bombing and house to house campaigns, as the Israeli Army presses deeper into Gaza. Accounts report many fatalities from gunfire as well as the bombings.

The UN has expressed concern regarding alleged atrocities and is calling for investigating possible war crimes. The UN maintains that its buildings and facilities are plainly marked and that the Israeli Army has been given exact locations of all UN buildings. The Israeli Army is also equipped with GPS tracking.

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Paschen

at 11:22 on January 15th, 2009

GPS are not a warranty for safety since we do have many incidents in past war zone in Eastern Europe where GPS market Embassy had been hit. However the UN seems to take a lot of hits in that area even in 2006 UN observer where killed in there marked post in Lebanon. Who will make the investigation and will they be collaboration and submission an international court if so needed? It all sounds rather hypothetical and unlikely to be followed.

Karen Hatter

at 12:22 on January 15th, 2009

I am experiencing posting and editing glitches. I hope these issues will be resolved soon.

Jordan Yerman

at 12:36 on January 15th, 2009

Looks like the email service tore your story's links apart. I reassembled them by hand- though there's always that one little bolt left over. Hopefully this looks OK now.

Karen Hatter

at 13:02 on January 15th, 2009

Thank you so much, Jordan! I admire your jig saw puzzle abilities!

Mikasi

at 13:13 on January 15th, 2009

It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

Amy Judd

at 13:15 on January 15th, 2009

A sad story indeed.

BMCWrites

at 15:18 on January 15th, 2009

The headline should read, "Cowardly Hamas Terrorists Hide inside Gaza Clinic, Use Women and Children as Human Shields."

Fripouille

at 15:53 on January 15th, 2009

I didn't come here to get into a sterile blame game match, but let's talk turkey here and ask real questions.

Is Israel deliberately bombing clinics and hospitals in order to kill sick people?

Is Israel deliberately bombing clinics and hospitals in order to kill Hamas facilities that have been installed there?

Does anyone know?

I would be grateful for any concrete information.

Thanks to all.

Fripouille

at 17:50 on January 15th, 2009

"You seem to think that the only time turkey is spoken is when you are speaking. I could say something more about that here but I will refrain".

Let me say something here.

I have opinions and questions and submit them. I do not see why that should be a problem. Your continuous veiled and "refrained from saying more" tactics and threats are out of hand.

I am not you.

I have the right to express myself without people (as if they could) trying to intimidate me.

I do not "refrain".

Enough's enough of you my friend.

René

at 19:50 on January 16th, 2009

So, moon, explain the concept of taqqiyah, if you can. Do you think the Palis or Hamas would confess to firing from the schools or hospitals? Or maybe they're the ones using phosphorus bombs and then claiming 'o look what the bad israelis did'?

You do realize your argument can cut both ways, don't you?

Blue Crush

at 19:05 on January 15th, 2009

Fripouille, this is taken from Gaza Children Increasingly Traumatized by BBS News .... "there are few safe places to flee to: As Hamas runs the civil police, schools and hospitals it is difficult for civilians to find an area without a Hamas institution, say local residents."

Fripouille

at 19:14 on January 15th, 2009

Hi Blue Crush,

I know about that, and I am horrified by it too, as all my comments on this site have testified. I just want the truth.

From both sides.

And, for the sake of everyone, be they Jews or Muslims, Israelis or Palestinians,

STOP THIS KILLING!!

I will play the blame game when the gun barrels are cold.......

Karen Hatter

at 19:16 on January 15th, 2009

This, also from the article, is very heartwrenching, Blue Crush:

"The reality is that this current violence is already compounding high levels of trauma in children in Gaza," said World Vision UK's head of emergency affairs, Ian Gray. "There's the initial impact on children, which we're already seeing -- frequent bed-wetting, nightmares, and a heartbreaking loss of hope -- but there's also the long-term trauma that will devastate for years to come."

Specialists say the sound of bomb explosions could cause pregnant women to miscarry or have premature or still births. However, bombs are not the only source of trauma: "The leaflets and phone calls [from the Israeli military calling on residents to evacuate their homes] are also traumatizing," said Abu-Sway.

158

at 19:27 on January 15th, 2009

Did Hamas think of this before firing rockets at Israeli cities?

Assume Israel is capable of deliberately killing children, bombing hospitals. Hamas says this is true so Hamas knew it, yet deliberately and repeatedly fired rockets at civilians in Israel.

Forget who shot first. Even assume Hamas acted in self defense.

With that HAMAS ARE TOTAL IDIOTS to fire rockets at a country 100 times stronger than they are, one they know enjoys killing children and bombing hospitals.

Blue Crush

at 19:31 on January 15th, 2009

Sad, isn't it, Karen? A whole new generation is learning to "HATE."

Fripouille

at 19:37 on January 15th, 2009

I couldn't agree more.....

Fripouille

at 19:40 on January 15th, 2009

Sorry for the irony of my last comment, about hate generations, Blue Crush......Just sorta slipped out.... sad

Karen Hatter

at 19:53 on January 15th, 2009

It is truly sad, Blue Crush.

As far as Hamas, those said to be firing rockets at Israel, with all of Israel's might, it's called resistance, resistance to occupation, resistance to oppression, borne out of desperation, desperation that has been growing for decades.

Desperation tends to defy more rational avenues of action.

It is truly desperation that would have children take to the streets, armed with stones, to fight tanks, knowing it likely they might die.

They will not only learn to hate, Blue Crush. Also, they will and are being viewed by many in the world as Israel's victims, as Israel continues its merciless campaign, with Israel claiming hundreds of Hamas rockets have been sent into Israel, killing 13, while Israel has bombed and shot dead over 1,000 Palestinians and wounded three times as many as there are Palestinian dead.

There is no comparison to which side is the more brutal in this scenario.

The danger as this Israeli action progresses is total destabilization in the region as this lopsided massacre continues.

Blue Crush

at 20:09 on January 15th, 2009

I was just reading an interesting article to this effect ... The Moral and Military Meltdown of Israel

Karen Hatter

at 20:36 on January 15th, 2009

A good find and a provocative piece, Blue Crush.

158

at 20:51 on January 15th, 2009

I agree.

"struggles against the European colonial settlement in their homeland"

Right or wrong, and I agree Israel should not have been established in Palestine. Israel is there with 6 million Jews and the strongest army in the middle east.

Does this statement mean that Israel has no right to exist?

Is that the way to come to a permanent peace with Israel?

If they do not plan to eliminate Israel what solution do they propose.

Paschen

at 21:13 on January 15th, 2009

Israel has as much a right to exist as any one in that area. there are not original settler there all came and invaded it at one point in the last 3000 years, left their DNA and mixed with the next invasion. Palestinian have been around for 2400 years mixed with European, Persian and Arabs as well as Israeli 2000 years ago. No independent state has existed for the entire area for over 2000 years, prior to 1948 that is. All have a right to exist there and best would be in a Federation all united, but so much blood has been spilled by now that this is rather unlikely to happen. Israel has to go back to the borders of 1967 if not earlier and Palestine will have become a state and maybe Gaza a separate state. Best would be for now to let UN peacekeepers in and stop the fighting and then start talking under UN mandate.

158

at 21:20 on January 15th, 2009

Good comment.

djsblack

at 10:42 on January 17th, 2009

Why don't we go down the intellectual discourse of the complete meltdown of the Muslim and Arab nations immoral conduct toward their own and other freedom loving nations.

This is absurd to try and demonize Israel when we are currently at war with the supposed "Islamic extremists" who are alleged to have "hijacked Islam" but nothing could be further from the truth.

Islam is a violent religion.

Fripouille

at 20:24 on January 15th, 2009

"Said" to be firing rockets at Israel?

Is that supposed to mean that maybe they aren't?

Apart from the fact that Hamas revendicates their rocket firing loud and clear, and as someone who (track my comments on this site) does not favour a unilateral point of view, may I ask the following question?

Given that Hamas is the democratically elected (and I respect that) governing body of the Palestinian people, and given that a government is supposed to be realistic and pragmatic in times of war, can someone please explain why Hamas continues a military strategy (firing rockets) that not only doesn't have any meaningful tactical or military impact but also ensures the continuation of this slaughter?

This is irresponsible and militarily meaningless.

It reminds me of Hitler in the bunker, refusing to capitulate despite the continuing death toll and knowing he couldn't win. That strategy led to the Berlin disaster. This is not a game, it's war.

STOP THIS!!!

Karen Hatter

at 21:36 on January 15th, 2009

'Said', was used as in Israel is the only one providing reports of the rocket fire, specifically concerning the number of rockets.

The relentless air strikes and bombings, occurring hour after hour, day after day, carried out by Israel on the Palestinian people, has been captured on video.

The word 'said' was not meant as a challenge of veracity. It was an acknowledgement of fact.

Yellow Guitar

at 11:42 on January 19th, 2009

"It reminds me of Hitler in the bunker, refusing to capitulate despite the continuing death toll and knowing he couldn't win. That strategy led to the Berlin disaster."

Nail on the head. That's a powerful analogy, and exactly to the point. Even if Israel is all the evil things her protractors claim - especially if so - then the Hamas policy is suicidal and shows a heinous disregard for the citizens it was elected to serve and protect. Speaking of war crimes...

158

at 20:33 on January 15th, 2009

Karen Hatter.

I am not judging right or wrong or degrees of brutality but only stupidity.

People in Gaza are angry, desperate, resist Israeli control; rightly so. and they may not always act rationally. That is understandable.

Assume. Israel is the most brutal nation since Hitler, they want to kill Arabs, especially children. The people of Gaza are right to react by throwing rocks, whatever.

But Hamas claims to be the legitimate government of Gaza, caring about the welfare of Gazans. They know Israelis are murderers, child killers. outlaws.

Why would rational national leaders act on emotion, knowing that Israel would in turn devastate Gaza? Leaders should act on facts, not emotion. President elect Obama has said he would react if his daughters were endangered by rockets. So Hamas knew the brutal Israelis would act even more violently than Obama would.

Again assume Israel is totally wrong, totally brutal.

Still Hamas, knowing this, willfully provoked them, knowing Israel would do just this.

That is stupidity or total unconcern for their people.

israeli.agent

at 16:17 on January 15th, 2009

Off Topic...

"You seem to think that the only time turkey is spoken is when you are speaking."

?????

I got confused and then googled and succeeded...!. Strictly for non-native English speakers (like your's truly)

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19991130

Agent.

Yellow Guitar

at 20:13 on January 15th, 2009

Merciful God, what a cold cold place. The thought of little ones sniffling themselves to sleep like kids do when they're spent, then having to shake off sleep in order to drag thier exhausted little bodies and broken spirits through an eternity of moments of pure despair. (to think I cried when my own children suffered setbacks like getting cut from the team, or hurt by a friend) And into what future? Growing up to become like the very ones who have betrayed them? How unspeakably sad.