Israeli jets destroy Gaza baby clinic

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

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...

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.

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.