Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., January 11, 2009 Tevet 15, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:21 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 11:35 07/01/2009
ANALYSIS / Israel must double, triple, quadruple its medical aid to Gaza
By Ari Shavit
Tags: Hamas, Israel, Gaza 

A few days ago, Physicians for Human Rights began soliciting $700,000 in donations for hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli humanitarian organization also provided a detailed list of the medical equipment Gaza lacks, including portable monitors, respirators, ultrasound and X-ray machines, wheelchairs, needles, dressings, catheters, oxygen, medical gases, endo-tracheal tubes, screws and plates for shattered limbs, and surgical gloves. According to PHR, Gaza also has a severe shortage of intensive-care beds, which cost about $50,000 apiece. Moreover, many Palestinian ambulances are out of commission.



As of Tuesday, dozens of people had responded to the call. Some NIS 400,000 has been raised, mainly from Palestinian-Israelis. However, the campaign is still about $600,000 short. And every day, the needs are growing. Every day, Palestinian doctors are forced to operate on wounded Palestinians without surgical gloves, without anesthesia and without other basic medical and sanitary equipment.

What Israel's government should do, this very morning, is give PHR the missing $600,000. However, the government should not make do with that. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak must double, triple and quadruple the donation. The defense establishment must immediately provide a fund of $10-20 million that will inject new life into Gaza's collapsing hospitals.

Money alone, however, is not enough. The Israel Defense Forces must seize the humanitarian initiative and erect a field hospital at the Kerem Shalom or Kissufim or Erez border crossings. The army should announce that first, the hospital will care for children: Any wounded Gazan child who is not receiving appropriate treatment in Gaza will receive excellent treatment at the Israeli hospital. If the experiment proves successful and is not abused, it can be expanded to offer emergency treatment to women, the elderly and anyone else not involved in terror.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza is justified. It was launched following incessant and intolerable provocations by Hamas. Nevertheless, the fighting in Gaza is causing humanitarian disasters. However unintentionally, it is nevertheless also hurting innocents. Therefore, the Israeli government has an obligation to complement the aerial operation and the ground operation with a humanitarian one. Israel must offer support from afar to Gaza's nurses, doctors and clinics. It must offer support from up close to every bleeding innocent in Gaza. It must immediately rescue the wounded families, ensure freedom of movement for ambulances and grant absolute immunity to clinics, medical warehouses and hospitals.

Only a bold and sweeping humanitarian initiative can show the world, and also ourselves, that we are indeed committed to universal moral values. Only an immediate and generous humanitarian initiative will prove that even during the brutal warfare that has been forced on us, we remember that there are human beings on the other side.

Related articles:
  • Rice: U.S. backs Egypt proposal for Gaza cease-fire
  • Four of six IDF soldiers killed in Gaza were victims of friendly fire
  • Fighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the Internet
  • Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza Strip
  • Venezuelan President Chavez: Gaza operation is a Palestinian 'holocaust'
  • Al-Qaida No. 2 slams Obama for failing to stop IDF offensive in Gaza
  • French TV claims photos from 2005 showed damage from Israel's Gaza operation
  • Four of six IDF soldiers killed in Gaza were victims of friendly fire
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    A "gesture of dignity"
    Israeli envoy to Venezuela departs after being expelled by Chavez over Gaza op
    A voodoo initiative
    Voodoo priests in Benin pray for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
      1.   Medical Aid & Change 04:13  |  Greg 07/01/09
      2.   Medical Aid to Gaza 06:03  |  Ed 07/01/09
      3.   Mmm. 06:10  |  Colin Wright 07/01/09
      4.   Hamas is appropriating much of the medical 08:09  |  DAVID KAPLAN 07/01/09
      5.   Siege is an act of war 08:34  |  Kevin 07/01/09
      6.   There are reports that Hamas gangs are hijacking the aid 08:35  |  Zev 07/01/09
      7.   No humanitarian aid at all 08:37  |  Moshe 07/01/09
      8.   Quick! Stick a band-aid on that thing! 08:57  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      9.   Egypt should take full resposibility for strip 10:39  |  Dr eric 07/01/09
      10.   Perect! 11:57  |  Robert 07/01/09
      11.   Or, Hamas could stop hiding in schools and such 12:05  |  Noa 07/01/09
      12.   I do not get it 12:24  |  A mother 07/01/09
      13.   Would be good in terms of public relations... 12:50  |  tristan 07/01/09
      14.   unintentionally? 12:51  |  Robert 07/01/09
      15.   The problem with schizophrenia 16:21  |  Mark Lincoln 07/01/09
      16.   HUMANITARIAN AIDE 20:25  |  David 07/01/09
      17.   Give them aid? One-way ticket out of Gaza 20:56  |  Nechama 07/01/09
      18.   Public Relations don`t override the koran 21:24  |  Nechama 07/01/09
      19.   Israeli Aid to Gaza 23:53  |  Margalit 07/01/09
      20.   Medical aid to Gaza 23:54  |  Moussa 07/01/09
      21.   Imagine the Allies sending aid to German/Japanese hospitals! 23:57  |  Chaim 07/01/09
      22.   NECHAMA 04:55  |  Shoshanna 08/01/09
      23.   Humanitarian Aid? 05:00  |  Eugenio 08/01/09
      24.   whose responsible 05:07  |  matt 08/01/09
      25.   Morally bankrupt 05:16  |  Ben 08/01/09
      26.   But Qatar, Libya, Iran, Free Gaza boats brought all needed aid 05:19  |  Genuine Tosefta 08/01/09
      27.   Gazans to trust IDF to care for them? 05:23  |  H50 08/01/09
      28.   Ari Shavit`s math is correct, 70,000 Iranian volunteers & virgins 05:30  |  Genuine Tosefta 08/01/09
      29.   Medical supplies is the least of problems Arbs have PART 1 06:23  |  Genuine Tosefta 08/01/09
      30.   Medical supplies is the least of problems Arbs have PART 2 06:32  |  Genuine Tosefta 08/01/09
      31.   Great idea 11:10  |  miriam 08/01/09
      32.   Israel must double, triple, quadruple its medical aid to Gaza 15:57  |  G Balaban 08/01/09
      33.   RE: gazans to trust idf caring for them 18:34  |  NYE 08/01/09
      34.   What universal moral values? 18:57  |  Adi 08/01/09
      35.   Crocodile tears 18:59  |  H.H.M. 08/01/09
      36.   stop your hypocrisis 22:54  |  Ibrahim 08/01/09
      37.   Response to #18 21:07  |  Sharon 10/01/09
      38.   To Chairm 19:00  |  bb 11/01/09
     Read & React
    'Hamas: Gilad Shalit's fate is no longer our concern'
    Responses: 44
    IDF investigation shows errant mortar hit UN building in Gaza
    Responses: 26
    Gideon Levy: My Gaza war hero is Al-Jazeera correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin
    Responses: 55
    Medics: Israeli troops edge into Gaza City, killing 14 Palestinians
    Responses: 18
    Editorial: Hamas acts cannot justify Israel's cruel war against Palestinian civilians
    Responses: 58


    More Headlines
    17:34 IDF soldiers come under fire at Syria border fence
    18:02 MI Chief: Hamas hurt in Gaza, but group unlikely to surrender
    18:42 Gaza rocket hits playground in Ashdod, amid barrage on Negev
    18:38 IAF bombs dozens of smuggling tunnels along Philadelphi Route
    19:21 Olmert: Nobody will determine Israel's right to defend itself
    17:54 Obama: Gaza conflict underscores need for immediate Mideast solution
    18:14 Witnesses: IAF planes flying low over Egypt during Gaza attacks
    17:55 ANALYSIS / Synching IDF and government over Gaza
    18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
    17:09 Sources: Hamas fired anti-aircraft missiles at IAF planes
    14:23 Gush Katif evacuees implore gov't to let them resettle Gaza
    13:37 Red Cross will no longer escort Palestinian ambulances in Gaza
    14:43 International protesters plan to break Gaza naval blockade
    14:58 Report: Hamas official says Shalit's fate is no longer group's concern
    10:27 Israel disappointed by UN resolution that avoids key demands on Gaza
    13:13 Report: U.S. spurned Israel plan for attack on Iran nuke reactor
    08:56 ANALYSIS / UN Gaza truce resolution was serious diplomatic malfunction
    08:51 IDF investigation shows errant mortar hit UN building in Gaza
    17:08 This Hyphenated Life / 30 years after revolution, Cambodia is blossoming with tikkun olam
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved