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Follow Us on TwitterDr Vacy Vlazna (NSW) writes to ABC objecting to misinformation on its Gaza report 28Dec09 December 28, 2009
ABC “AM” program: “Gaza despair 12 months after Israeli attacks” by Anne Barker
Dr Vlazna wrote:
Your report this morning on the first anniversary of Israel’s war crime against families in Gaza was either sloppy journalism or intentional misinformation and definitely showed a pro-Israel bias given the misinformation.
Firstly there was not 1100 persons killed -”Mostly civilians”.
Over the course of the offensive, Israeli occupation forces killed 1,419 Palestinians, and wounded over 5,300. The vast majority of those killed were civilians entitled to full protection and immunity from attack under IHL (1,167 protected persons, 82.2%); 326 were children, and 111 were women. This figure includes the 251 non-combatant police officers killed during the offensive. These policemen were not members of an armed group and were not participating in hostilities; their targeting and wilful killing constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions. Of the injured, approximately 1,600 were children, and approximately 860 were women.
During the offensive, Israeli occupation forces extensively targeted and destroyed civilian property throughout the Gaza Strip. PCHR figures indicate that 2,114 houses (comprising 2,864 housing units) were completely destroyed, affecting 3,314 families (19,592 individuals). 3,242 houses (5,014 housing units) were partially destroyed – rendered uninhabitable – affecting 5,470 families (32,250 individuals). A further 16,000 houses suffered moderate damage. As a result of Israel’s continuing illegal closure, reconstruction and rehabilitation has proved impossible; 18.5% of households in the Gaza Strip have an urgent need for reconstruction of their housing unit, while 16.8% have an urgent need for repairs. 20,000 individuals remain homeless.
Secondly the ProIsrael lobby man said that Hamas is armed to the teeth…given there is a tight blockade and Egypt is an Israeli collaborator..where and how are these arms entering Gaza.?
The woman in Sderot made it sound like the toll from the qassam rockets was massive – since 2002 , 15 Israelis were killed…3 during Operation Cast Lead..
Finally there was no mention of the Goldstone Report that Israel and the US have tried to crush in the UN and in the US Congress which accused Israel of war crimes including the firing of phosphorus bombs against civilians.
One could always rely on journalistic truth on the ABC..not after today.
suggest you check your information…
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/Reports/English/pdf_spec/23-days.pdf
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_20012.pdf
Thank You.
