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The independent report confirms violations of health-related human rights and severe violations of international humanitarian law, during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, 27.12.2008 – 18.01.2009

3 conferences by join Palestinian and Israeli speakers will be held simultaneously for the launching of the report.

Jerusalem, 6th of April, 11.00 AM, at the American Colony Hotel

Pasha room – East Jerusalem
Contact: Bahia Amra, PMRS, +972.599.94.00.73 or +972.59.85.95.709
WITH THE PRESENCE OF HAIDAR ABU GHOSH

Brussels, 6th of April, 10.00 A.M, at APRODEV Offices,

Boulevard Charlemagne 28, B - 1000 Brussels
Contact: Miri Weingarten, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel 0044.777.229.285 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
WITH THE PRESENCE OF DR. MUSTAFA BARGHOUTHI

Paris, 7th of April, 11.00 AM, at “Espace Solidarité”

9/11, rue Froissart, - 75 003 Paris
Contact: Karine Chebli – 01.44.78.21.57 / 06.77.04.57.33 /
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
WITH THE PRESENCE OF DR. MUSTAFA BARGHOUTHI

Release and briefing on a report which follows the only international independent medical fact finding mission, conducted by five independent experts in the fields of forensic medicine, burns, medical response to crises and public health, from Germany, Denmark, South Africa and Spain. The experts conducted the investigation in Gaza between 29 January and 5 February 2009, along with a second mission to hospitals in Egypt, where some of the most seriously wounded were being treated, between 2 March and 7 March 2009.

The report:
 details 44 deeply distressing testimonies by civilians and medical personnel who came under attack;
 provides first-hand evidence regarding the broader effects of the attacks on a civilian population;
 confirms suspicions with regard to serious violations; and
 underlines the need for an impartial international investigation into violations of human rights committed in during the offensive.

In their report, the experts detail 44 testimonies by civilians and medical personnel who came under attack providing first-hand evidence on:

 Delayed or prevented evacuation of the wounded;
 Attacks on emergency medical teams while on duty;
 Attacks on medical facilities;
 Types of injuries;
 Outstanding attacks on civilians, some during the truce hours.

The experts also recorded preliminary evidence on:

 The use of unfamiliar types of weapons in civilian areas
 The impact of the attack on public health and on the healthcare system.

The report’s concluding remarks state: "besides the large-scale, largely impersonal destruction witnessed and heard of, it was especially distressing to hear of individual cases in which soldiers had been within seeing, hearing and speaking distance of their victims for significant stretches of time, but despite the opportunity for "humanisation", had denied wounded people access to lifesaving medical care, or even shot at civilians at short range." A legal analysis is appended to the report.

PHR-Israel and PMRS call for:

 For the holding of an impartial international investigation. It is to be hoped that the local authorities will fully cooperate with such an investigation in the interests of public accountability.

 For the European Union to support such an investigation.

 For the opening of the Crossings, without which any rehabilitation of Gaza and its population would be impossible.

As medical organizations, PMRS and PHR-Israel follow in this last demand the World Medical Association Regulations in Times of Conflict, according to which "Where conflict appears to be imminent and inevitable, physicians should, as far as they are able, ensure that authorities are planning for the repair of the public health infrastructure in the immediate post-conflict period."

FULL EMBARGO, 6TH OF APRIL, 11.AM