Israeli jets destroy Gaza baby clinic

[Barack_America]

Israeli jets destroy Gaza baby clinic

Monday, 12 Jan 2009 14:04

Israeli fighter jets have levelled a mother and baby clinic in the Gaza Strip, with patients and workers given just 15 minutes to evacuate.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of medical equipment was destroyed by the strike, which took place on Saturday night in Gaza City.

Christian Aid, whose partner agency ran the clinic, told inthenews.co.uk that the Israeli army has given no reason for the attack.

More to follow

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/world/international-affairs/israeli-jets-destroy-gaza-baby-clinic-$1260257.htm

GAZA CLINIC DESTROYED BY ISRAELI JETS

MOTHER AND BABY CLINIC TARGETTED AND DESTROYED BY ISRAELI MISSILE FIRE.
For immediate release. Pictures available

A primary health care clinic in Gaza city, funded by Christian Aid has been destroyed by Israeli missile fire.

The clinic, which provided free care to Gazans was run by the Near East Council of Churches, a Christian Aid partner organisation.

The owners of the two-storey building received a telephone warning to evacuate the building on Saturday evening 10th January within 15 minutes.

The building was evacuated quickly, just before a warning shot was fired.

That was followed by a direct hit from missiles fired by an F-16 Israeli air-force jet.

This completely destroyed the building and its contents, including hundreds of thousands of pounds of medical equipment.

There were no injuries in the attack. Nor was any reason for the attack given...

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/123176784922.htm


Edited: to add another source. It sounds like the clinic also housed other services for the community at large.

[cali]

1. atrocious- and that's true no matter what.

[Scurrilous]

2. Church Group Demands Probe of Gaza Clinic Attack

<snip>

"A hospital clinic partly funded by Finn Church Aid was destroyed in a missile strike in Gaza late Saturday night. The Lutheran organisation is demanding that the government find out why Israel destroyed the Al Shujaia clinic.

No one was injured in the Israeli attack.

Israeli troops fired a warning missile before launching the attack, allowing residents to vacate the area before the strike. However the second missile made a direct hit on the clinic, obliterating it completely.

“From our point of view, this was a calculated act. Even the warning missile targeted the clinic, which was clearly marked with the insignia of the Red Cross. This attack broke all international treaties,” said Jouni Hemberg, Chief of Humanitarian Aid for Finn Church Aid.

The clinic is located in the heart of the battle zone and was closed due to the weak security situation. Finn Church Aid has funded the clinic for several years along with other Nordic organisations. The clinic focused on providing primary health care for mainly women and children.

Finn Church Aid supports three other clinics in Gaza, all of them also closed."

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/church_group_demands_probe_of_gaza_clinic_attack_473543.html

[Barack_America]

7. Thanks for the additional link. nt

[atreides1]

3. At Least They Called First.

Which some here have claimed as a reason to excuse the bombing of non-military targets.

[tekisui]

6. And, the next babies to be born will have to do it the old-fashion way.

15 minutes isn't enough time to get supplies and equipment out. Just horrible.

[babylonsister]

Ugh. And I thought my outrage level was maxed out. nt

[tekisui]

4. Disgusting.

Israel is going to be responsible for the humanitarian crises that follow their actions. They will control every access point into Gaza and the place is decimated.

[LeftishBrit]

5. That is just wrong.

[Hugabear]

8. C'mon, Israeli defenders. DEFEND THIS.

I'd love to see how anybody can justify or rationalize this.

[tekisui]

10. Just wait, they will.

In due time the IDF will release their journalist-free PR-spin of the strike. The babies were probably booby-trapped and firing weapons.:eyes:

[Barack_America]

12. "Males inside the clinic were seen waving what were thought to be grenade launchers...

...as it turns out, they were just rattles. Still IDF forces justify the strike noting that these children *could* become Hamas fighters. A senior IDF official said, 'today we have struck a decisive blow against Hamas's next generation of fighters, and the mothers who produce them'".

(in case it's not clear to anyone, I made this up)

[Hugabear]

18. Perhaps Hamas was rubbing baby poop on their rockets

those villains.

[Barack_America]

23. See post #22.

"Hamas was in there!"

How predictable. :eyes:

[GoesTo11]

24. What if it was a dual use site: baby care and terrorist rocket firing.

We will probably hear from Israel that it was something like that. If Israel in fact gave warning, then this was intentionally targeted. Israel often targets locations because they have been used as military operations, rather than just because of a desire to kill babies.

[Barack_America]

9. Edited the OP to add another source.

[azurnoir]

11. Well they gave 15 minutes proves

they only have good intentions and are really noble human beings:sarcasm:

[tekisui]

13. "Compassionate Bombers"

[Lithos]

14. One other link

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/church_group_demands_probe_of_gaza_clinic_attack_473543.html

A hospital clinic partly funded by Finn Church Aid was destroyed in a missile strike in Gaza late Saturday night. The Lutheran organisation is demanding that the government find out why Israel destroyed the Al Shujaia clinic.

No one was injured in the Israeli attack.

Israeli troops fired a warning missile before launching the attack, allowing residents to vacate the area before the strike. However the second missile made a direct hit on the clinic, obliterating it completely.

“From our point of view, this was a calculated act. Even the warning missile targeted the clinic, which was clearly marked with the insignia of the Red Cross. This attack broke all international treaties,” said Jouni Hemberg, Chief of Humanitarian Aid for Finn Church Aid.

The clinic is located in the heart of the battle zone and was closed due to the weak security situation. Finn Church Aid has funded the clinic for several years along with other Nordic organisations. The clinic focused on providing primary health care for mainly women and children.

Finn Church Aid supports three other clinics in Gaza, all of them also closed.

The security situation in Gaza is so tenuous that disaster aid services are not travelling to the area. Since Friday trailers have been waiting near the Gaza border for a ceasefire and an improvement in the situation. The trucks are loaded with therapy and energy food for children as well as other items such as medicines and blankets.

The clinic appears to have been closed for several days due to the nearby fighting. It also looks to have shared the building with residents and/or other businesses and agencies. The evacuation was of nearby residents and not of mothers/babies as this was not a maternity ward, but rather an out patient clinic (similar to Planned Parenthood.) I know this particular neighborhood has been one of the main areas of fighting in recent days. But, unless there were active Hamas troops in the building or using the building militarily (weapons cache), there is no excuse.

[Barack_America]

19. Thank you.

It seems that this hospital had multiple funding sources. I ran across this link and also one claiming that this was a Carnitas clinic and yet another claiming it was funded by the Swedish government. So it seems that this will event will get attention throughout the world.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Algorem]

16. ethnic diaper cleansing

[Algorem]

17. this proves they're not after the (baby) oil

[HeraldSquare212]

20. "There will be no reproducing allowed in the Territories,

because we all know they just grow up to be terrorists."

[Algorem]

21. "Tots 4 Terror" secret hideout was in the crawlspace there.

[Barack_America]

22. Israel: Hamas has taken refuge in Gaza hospitals and schools

Get yer fresh, pipin' hot excuse for the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure!

Israel: Hamas has taken refuge in Gaza hospitals and schools

Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter on Monday said that top tier Hamas commanders and many of their subordinates have taken refuge in hospitals and schools across Gaza City as Israeli forces advance on their traditional bases of operations.

Dichter said that Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's main medical center, has become the de facto Hamas headquarters.

"Shifa Hospital has long ago ceased to be just a hospital, just as the UN humanitarian and health services in Gaza long ago ceased to be just humanitarian services providing food and medical services," Dichter said in an interview with Army Radio.

UN and other schools were being similarly used by the terrorists.

Dichter said that for obvious reasons Israel will avoid targeting Shifa Hospital and other public places being misused by Hamas, but suggested that Israel is less than pleased with the international community for ignoring these blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions.

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=17984

[GoesTo11]

25. What's wrong with Hamas using hospitals for operations?

Surgeons do it all the time.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. I missed your sarcasm tag...

If you were serious the answer is: Because it technically makes them legitimate military targets. When they get hit, one side will cry "war crimes", The other "human shields", and the suffering will go on.

[tekisui]

26. ‘Israeli Missile’ Hits Church-Backed Hospital in Gaza, Says Humanitarian Alliance

Source: Anglican Journal

Jerusalem
ACT International, a global humanitarian alliance of churches and agencies, says a hospital it supports in the densely-populated Shijaiya part of Gaza was reduced to rubble when the building was hit by an Israeli missile.

Geneva-based ACT International said the health care centre in the east of Gaza will no longer be able to offer services to the residents in the neighbourhood, which has been subject to constant bombardment by the Israeli army, with a high rate of casualties.

“The building was targeted by F16 fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force on Jan.10,” said ACT in a statement. “The Middle East Council of Churches, which runs the clinic, was renting its offices in the three storey building. According to the church council, the Israelis were targeting the owner of the building who was residing in the upper part” of it.

Israel’s public security minister Avi Dichter was quoted by the country's army radio on Jan.12 as saying the top commanders of Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, which rules the Gaza strip, and many of its “subordinates” have taken refuge in hospitals and schools across Gaza City. Mr. Dichter said that Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's main medical centre had become the “de facto Hamas headquarters.”

The health care centre in Shijaiya was established in 1968 and it seeks to tend to the needs of the Shijaiya community, which is known for its high population density and where the majority of the residents are living under the poverty line.

“Almost all residents in the clinic vicinity are in no state to afford any medical treatment, purchase of medicine, or doctor visits,” said the ACT statement. “The centre used to offer treatment free-of-charge and medical services to the public and was considered a valuable and very helpful clinic. The centre had concentrated its service on children and pregnant women.”

more: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/israeli-missile-hits-church-backed-hospital-in-gaza-says-humanitarian-alliance/?cHash=006033c2cc

[Chulanowa]

27. So Avi Dicher is saying...

"We have to kill lots of people and destroy infrastructure to get at the one or two Hamas people we think are inside"

How 'come this sort of logic isn't applicable in reverse?

[DogPoundPup]

28. Gaza clinics destroyed by raids

Israeli warplanes have attacked two fully equipped medical clinics in Gaza, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, the Christian organisations which fund them reported yesterday. The Catholic relief group Caritas said its clinic in the al-Meghazi area of Gaza had been "completely destroyed" by a missile on Friday, and that 20 nearby homes had been damaged. Because local families had already fled their homes, no one was hurt, Caritas said, but equipment worth $10,000 (£6,700) was lost.

Twenty-fours later, another clinic funded by Christian Aid was also demolished in an air strike; it followed a telephone warning to the building's owners to leave within 15 minutes. Janet Symes, Christian Aid's head of Middle East Region, said the clinic had "standing room" only for mothers bringing their children for check-ups when she visited it last year. She added: "Now the whole clinic lies in ruins."

Little more than a sixth of the 1,200 Egyptian hospital beds being reserved for injured Palestinians have been filled, despite estimates that more than 4,000 have been wounded. With a World Health Organisation report saying that Gaza City's Shifa Hospital remains "overwhelmed", the dangers of evacuating patients through southern Gaza have severely reduced the flow of patients to hospitals in Egypt. The Red Cross has decided to keep its evacuations under review after one of its lorries was shot at by Israeli troops.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-clinics-destroyed-by-raids-1332022.html

[delad]

35. self delete

[bunnies]

30. Scorched earth.

There will be no quality of life in Gaza when Israel is done with them. Whats lower than bombing schools, hospitals and humanitarian organizations? Nothing.

[ShadesOfGrey]

31. I agree. A good quote from another article...

"What Israel has done in the past two weeks will keep the flames of this conflict alive for generations to come."

[Vegasaurus]

33. They would have been alive anyway

considering that Hamas and the militants plan to keep up violent resistance (no matter how miserable it makes civilians) until the "liberate all of 'occupied' Palestine"-i.e. Israel.

That just means that there will be conflict forever.

[HeraldSquare212]

32. I agree, too, that that's the objective. And now they've appointed an Israeli minister to deal with

humanitarian relief into Gaza - almost sounds like they are going to take administrative duties from Hamas, or at least, the bare minimum of such duties - the rest just won't get done.

[Karmadillo]

34. Maybe the pilots mistook it for a UN facility.

nt