GAZA
CITY, April 2, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Amidst stark warnings of
potential outbreak of chronic and deadly diseases, Israeli occupation
troops have recently set up a “radioactive” glass room at the main
Rafah crossing through which Palestinians have to pass to enter or
exit the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian
medics said that potential diseases include thrombocytopenic,
sterility, congenital anomalies, cancer, leukemia, mental retardation
and ductless glands disorder, warning that Palestinians are slipping
toward slow death.
“I
was forced by Israeli occupation troops to enter this scary room-like
radiating device, which consists of glass and barbed wire,” Mohammad
Al-Sadoudi, 40, told IslamOnline.net.
“Israeli
troops were at least 10 meters away and Israeli citizens are not
allowed to enter this room. I fear that I might be inflicted with
cancer as I frequently use the (Rafah) crossing.”
Radioactive
War
Osama
Al-Assar, the administrative director of Rafah crossing, said Israel
is launching a “radioactive war” against the Palestinians.
“It
seems as if their daily incursions are not enough,” he told IOL.
“We urge media and NGOs to expose these blatant aggressions against
our people.”
“I’m
so worried about the generations to come as many pregnant women are
passing through this obnoxious room day in and day out,” Assar
added.
Walid
Al-Salhi, the director of preventive security at the Rafah crossing,
said the room is made of lead-coated glass and is holding inside it a
one-meter high cylinder-shaped device.
“Doctors
warned that this device produces life-threatening, bone-piercing rays
and Israeli troops can easily see the body parts of Palestinians,
using the infra-red technology,” Salhi said.
The
Gaza Community Mental Health Program has launched a campaign against
the Israeli use of radiation inspection system at Rafah Crossing.
As
a first practical step, GCMHP initiated a request from its partner
organization Physicians for Human Rights in Israel to pursue the
Israeli authorities to request examining the danger of such apparatus.
In
case the Israeli authority did not respond to such demands, it will
resort to filing a compliant to the Supreme Court of Israel to send a
qualified professional team or a neutral medical committee in an
attempt to halt the use of such hazardous inspection system.
To
the suffering of thousands of Palestinians, Israel usually closes the
Rafah crossing under security pretexts.
The
suffering swelled in August when the occupation army closed the
checkpoint for up to 17 consecutive days.
Some
3,000 men, women and children of all ages were crammed into a parking
lot about half the size of a soccer field with only two doors for
ventilation and straw mats serving as beds.
