Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 15, 2008 Shvat 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:19 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:15 21/10/2007 Gaza hospital official: Surgeries canceled due to drug shortage By The Associated Perss Tags: Gaza, drugs, Israel  Gaza's main hospital said Sunday it has run out of anesthetic for surgeries and canceled all but the most critical procedures, due to an Israeli blockade of its borders. The Shifa hospital had been using emergency reserves of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for the past two weeks, and placed an order for fresh supplies, but stocks ran out Sunday morning, hospital spokesman Walid Mahalawi said. Advertisement Israel has severely restricted the flow of cargo and people through Gaza's crossings since the violent Islamic Hamas took control of the coastal strip in June. Israel has since declared Gaza a hostile entity in an attempt to pressure Hamas to stop rocket attacks on Israeli towns and the border crossings. Mahmoud Daher, of the World Health Organization in Gaza said the cause of the nitrous oxide shortage was that Israeli suppliers would not ship fresh gas cylinders without receiving the empties in exchange. Because of repeated attacks by Palestinian militants on the crossings, the Israel Defense Forces is hesitant to allow the depleted canisters to approach for fear they might be rigged as bombs. "I suggest that the hospital go to Hamas and ask them to take the threat off the checkpoints," IDF spokesman Shomo Dror said Sunday. Mahalawi said 10 emergency operations were performed at Shifa during the day Sunday, down from a daily average of 20 usually carried out there. He did not know how many elective surgeries were canceled. In the absence of the gas, patients had to be sedated using intravenous drugs that pose risks to some and carry a longer recovery time, he said Bookmark to del.icio.us   Diskin's faulty math The Shin Bet's estimate of civilian casualties was revealed to be too low. Wooing minorities The color of Barack Obama's skin has returned as an issue to the campaign.   1.   Israel`s finest hour... every day a new outrage 18:22  |  0 degrees 21/10/07   2.   CHANGE WEAPONS FOR MEDICAL DRUGS 18:27  |  Iskander 21/10/07   3.   Call in the Red Cross 18:41  |  Yonatan 21/10/07   4.   Crime ....its Getto mentality . 20:27  |  Mehemet Agha 21/10/07   5.   Anesthetics Or Explosives 01:55  |  juniper 22/10/07   6.   He will be cured by 03:55  |  cristo 23/10/07   7.   Gaza Hospitals 08:59  |  Jesus 15/01/08

Today Online Sources: Barak and settlers reach deal on outpost evacuations Responses: 264 Haaretz probe: Shin Bet count of civilian deaths in Gaza is low Responses: 183 PM says he opposes IDF Gaza onslaught for time being Responses: 136 Zvi Bar'el: The Arabs should stop whining Responses: 133 AJ Congress slams 'Ms'. for rejecting ad on top Israeli women Responses: 60 Rosner's Domain Obama "will be the friend we want in the White House" Defending and rejecting the NIE on Iran (WTR) Poll: Does Bush still placing the promotion of democracy at the top of his agenda? Iranian's threaten, the candidates threaten back Did Bush endorse Israel's attack in Syria? (WTR) More Headlines 08:44 PM to aides: Progress in peace talks worth risk to coalition 08:38 Construction begins on new housing units in E. J'lem neighborhood 09:07 Israel offers Anglo doctors $60,000 in immigration incentive 09:03 Ex-U.S. envoy: Slim chance for Mideast peace by end of year 09:09 Historian threatens to reveal Polish atrocities against Jews if tried for slander 09:05 Archaeological discoveries may prove barrier to Jaffa port rejuvenation 09:10 Burglars assault elderly couple, lock them into freezing basement 09:16 Police chief's plan to add new major general for training spurs criticism 20:26 Israel foils bid to take explosive material into Gaza on aid truck 09:15 University heads: Deal with lecturers in 2 days or semester canceled Previous Editions Select Day 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan

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