|
March
26, 2001: After Israeli forces operating east of Gaza City fired
“new” orange gas, with “a nice-smell and delicious taste upon
inhalation. Then the inhaler feels tired throughout the body, their muscles loosen,
and they suffer from breathing difficulties. The gas also leaves red signs on
the skin, causing agitation. Some hours later, the inhaler suffers severe abdominal
pains.” Three Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital
in Gaza City after inhaling the gas. (1)
March
30, 2001: Medical sources in the West Bank city of Nablus reported
Israeli occupation forces using “a highly effective gas with unfamiliar
symptoms, similar to that used first in Khan Yunis on February 12, 2001.”
(2)
April
5, 2001: British journalist Jonathan Cook reported a March gas
attack on the schoolyard of Al-Khader village, near Bethlehem. Thirteen year-old
Sliman Salah was playing when a gas canister landed next to him. Large doses of
anticonvulsants were required to control the boy’s seizures and maintain
consciousness. His symptoms “were finally brought under control five days
after his exposure to the gas. But Salah’s father says the boy is still
suffering from stomach pains, vomiting, dizziness and breathing problems.”
(3)
Dr.
Yousef Abu Safiya, Head of the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority:
"We ascertained that these are nerve gases, by analyzing a specimen of the
Israeli bombs that didn't burn completely. Through analysis, we revealed that
it is composed of a group of nerve gases, due to which affected citizens suffered
from spasms..this is..evidence [that Israel] used internationally-banned weapons
against the Palestinian people.” (4) (also see page 14)
 |
Sister,
left, age 16: “I would get headaches. And my legs would seize up
and I would feel pain in all of my body. And my chest would become constricted.
And I feel like I want to tear myself apart. And I couldn’t sleep - I could
barely walk.”
|
Gas
Attacks in Khan Younis, February 2001: Interviews with victims and medical personnel
by James Longley, producer of Gaza
Strip. For full text and photos, see Interviews |
|
