Palestinian prisoners not getting any care: Israeli NGO
Guy Shalev, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights Israel, says his NGO, which documents human rights abuses, has been closely following Israeli attacks on Gaza’s health system.
“There are more than 20,000 Palestinians who await medical evacuation in Gaza who can’t be treated there and can’t get out,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that only several hundred have been allowed to leave since May.
In the occupied West Bank, the organisation is working closely with Palestinians to document “settler violence and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian communities” while trying to assist prisoners.
“Access is very restricted. For instance, the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] has not had any access to any Israeli prison in the past year, which is a dire violation of prisoners’ human rights and of international law,” he said.
Shalev said the NGO gets information through hundreds of people who are contacted through their lawyers.
“We’re getting a lot of medical requests that we can’t fully address because of the sheer amount and scale of violations,” he said.
“We’re now trying to address the needs of people who weigh just 40kg [88lb] and are in very bad health conditions after long months of not getting proper medical care and nutrition.”
This picture shows the Ofer military prison located between Ramallah and Baytunia in the occupied West Bank
Israeli government ‘not interested’ in a diplomatic solution to the war
Since last year, the Israeli military and particularly the political echelons “have become more promiscuous” with how many human casualties they can tolerate, according to Daniel Seidemann, a specialist on Israeli-Palestinian relations.
“Any military operation requires proportionality. What we witnessed in Gaza and Lebanon and engagement with UNIFIL, it goes well beyond any reasonable interpretation of what proportionality is. These are unnecessary casualties,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that a ceasefire is desperately needed.
“But my government is not interested in a diplomatic solution, my prime minister has a vested interest in prolonging the war.”
Seidmann also said he understands that a number of members of the Israeli Knesset wish to expropriate the land of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem to build illegal settlements, but no formal measures have been adopted by the government so far.
‘Israeli army is killing for the sake of killing’
We can still hear heavy artillery sounds coming from the eastern and southeastern parts of central Gaza. Overnight, the attacks have all fed into one conclusion: mass killing going on for the sake of killing without a clear objective.
When we look at the deaths arriving at the hospital in Deir el-Balah, it is the same pattern with women and children making up the majority of them. If they are lucky enough, they arrive here in one piece. Most of the deaths that arrive at the hospital are in really bad shape – either in pieces or with torn limbs.
Four people were killed in overnight attacks on the centre of Deir el-Balah – a crowded and busy area during the day and night. These people were inside their home when the attack took place and several injuries were also reported in the attack.
The same thing happened in Maghazi refugee camp – two people from the same family were killed by the Israeli military, including a 13-year-old boy.
Israel says soldier killed in southern Gaza fighting
The Israeli military has confirmed that Staff Sargeant Ittai Fogel of an armoured brigade has been killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.
It did not provide details about how he died. The soldier was from an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank and served as a tank commander in the besieged enclave.
Dozens killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic, citing medical sources, report that 34 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on various parts of the Gaza Strip since this morning.
Palestinians mourn for the loss of loved ones after an Israeli army’s attack in Deir el-Balah, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital
