Israel's weapons producing more birth defects in Gaza as pregnant women live in fear

Gaza, March 3, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -An increase in birth defects among newborns in the Gaza Strip - first documented in the Palestine Telegraph - has become apparent, despite claims to the contrary by some doctors at Al-Shifa Hospital. Pregnant women say they are living in constant fear.

Noha Abu Laban, 37, a resident of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip, is in her final month of pregnancy and says: "In the war, I inhaled the smoke of white phosphorus, which was fired on the roof of our house. I have been feeling sick since my pregnancy, and have had heavy bleeding." Noha is currently being treated in the High-Risk Pregnancy Care Unit at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. more

UN official condemns Gaza blockade for creating an open-air prison, sending development into reverse

"A situation of development going backwards" is how the UN's John Holmes describes the situation he encountered in Gaza, reported in the New York Times. Below is the open-air prison statement report by Al-Jazeera.

John Holmes, the United Nation's humanitarian chief, has revisited the Gaza Strip, a year after Israel's assault on the territory ended.

He told Al Jazeera that it was disappointing how little has changed since the war and that there has been no real possibility of reconstruction, mainly because of Israel's siege of the Strip.

He said the blockade resulted in misery for the Palestinians.

"They're living in a kind of open-air prison. They're still suffering from this kind of collective punishment they've been suffering for three years now." more