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The
Palestinian Women’s Information and Media Center (PWIC) has sounded
an alarm about the danger of a scanning radiation device used by the
Israeli occupation soldiers in Raffah crossing point for frisking
the Palestinian travelers.
Declarations of many physicians, nuclear
physicists and radiologists, in addition to the Israeli violation of
the Palestinian personal privacy, reveal that Israeli scanning
radiation device causes for the Palestinian travelers complications
and dangerous diseases like cancer, sterility coma. The damages
caused by the device are wide-range that appears in forms of cells
spoil, blood platelets decrease, defected embryo, blood cancer, skin
cancer and mental retardation. And what asserts its danger is
keeping enough distance between the Israeli soldiers and the device,
and employing Palestinian workers close to it. This action aims at
avoiding the Israeli soldiers from the device's dangerous effects
regardless the Palestinian own safety.
As for the violation of human rights
experienced by enforcing the Palestinian travelers to pass through
the device, lawyers depend on specialists' opinions who said that
the device shows the travelers naked on observing screens before
Israeli observatories. This action, actually, break our moral rules
and even the rules of religions; it is a real scandalous aggression
on privacies and prohibitions.
The action also goes against human rights
by compelling the travelers to an insulting stance and forcing them
to turn around in many directions. In addition, these procedures
performed in the device room takes three to five minutes for each
traveler, and cause a hard overcrowding.
Because of these facts, the Palestinian
Women’s Information and Media Center (PWIC) held a workshop in its
headquarters in Gaza to discuss this issue, and invited different
specialists to talk about this matter to media for the sake of
holding a press campaign and exerting pressure on the Israeli
occupational authorities in order to remove such a dangerous device
from Raffah crossing point.
The specialists:
1- Surgeon Juma'ah El-Saqah, manager of public
relations in Dar Al-Shifaa' hospital.
2- D. Fatmah M. El-Hindi, radiologist in Dar
Al-Shifaa' hospital.
3- Anwar Atta-Allah, physics engineer in
Prince Naief's for oncology.
4- Anwar Yusuif Diab, lecturer in Jerusalem
Open University.
5- Awni Naim, manager of nuclear energy and
radiation prevention unite of Palestinian authority.
6- Jameal Sarhan, lawyer and coordinator of
legal unite in Al-Meazan center for human rights.
Opining:
Welcome brothers and members, and thank you
for your attendance. We have not invited a wide audience because the
hall is small. The workshop aims at discovering the effects of the
scanning radiation device on the Palestinian civilians in general,
and on woman in particular taking in consideration the fact that
woman is the one who delivers males and females, and the one whose
damage harms all the civilians. According to a Palestinian security
source, the pressure of some official Palestinian parts and those
made Israel announced stopping using the scanning radiation device.
But this morning, we called the Palestinian side in Rafah checking
point and became convinced of the fact that Israel is still using
the device for checking suspects. The device is still used, and it
has been used in Airez checking point for three months and a huge
number of citizens pass it every day.
And now, there are specialists of medicine,
nuclear energy, radiology and oncology, in addition to Mr. Jameal,
an advocator from Meazan Center for human rights, going to deliver
their speeches. The speeches will be accompanied with explanations
through pictures about the device and its effects.
Doctor Joma'a El-Saqa, specialist in
general medicine and manager of public relations in All-Shifa'
hospital.
I am going to talk about my own experience
with the device. I passed through the device that I had not any idea
about before. I was forced to enter the device, there was no other
choice. The experiment was very hard. Sick and healthy women, old
persons and children were compelled to pass through the scanning
radiation device with no exception; the fact that disprove the
Israeli announcement regarding excluding children from passing
through the device. Actually, they passed through it before my own
eyes and ears. In the past, passing through scanning radiation bows
at a checking point required from travelers to get rid of their
pockets' contents, and sometimes of their shoes .But these
requirements are not enough to pass through the current device. In
my experiment, there were fifty travelers in the bus. They were not
allowed to go out of the bus unless soldiers permitted them. Israeli
soldiers were allowing travelers to go out of the bus couple by
couple. Each couple must enter a room that consisted of the scanning
radiation device that is devoted only for the Palestinians. We have
not seen such a device even in European countries. When I had left a
handkerchief in my pocket, I was informed to put it off.
There was not any Israeli soldier in the room;
we heard their orders from speakers. One could not see any person
but a Palestinian worker whose work is to order you entering the
room.
Even the handkerchief was discovered by the
device. When I entered the room I was surprised. The device room
consisted of two one-meter-high cylinders joined together from the
top. On the floor, there were two signs, one for each foot. The
civilian traveler had to put his feet on them. Then one would find
himself standing raising his hands taking a surrender stance.
So, after you enter the room you announce your
surrender and take two pictures in this position. Then you will be
ordered to turn around putting your feet onto another signs in
another surrender position for taking another two pictures. Each ray
picture takes twenty seconds, a period which is over the maximum
permissible dose in medicine and radiation standards.
Being exposed totally to rays, the body
receives a huge amount of rays more intensive than the maximum
permissible doses. And, as an expert in radiology, I assert that
such a scanning radiation device is very dangerous for its function
to survey the body; the fact that evokes me to start a
counter-campaign against this device. In fact, no one has hesitated
to support our counter-campaign even important governmental persons
such as Mohammad Dahlan, a minister of civil affairs. In my opinion,
the counter-campaign reached to a point that pushed Israel to admit
its mistake committed when announcing about the intention to stop
using the device in Rafah crossing point.
Despite all the promises we received from
the Palestinian authority and its responsible persons to help remove
the device, and despite their threats to stop working in Rafah
crossing point, the device is still used there and Israel still
procrastinates.
Nowadays, the Israeli claims regarding
the device still contradict with the information that asserts its
existence. The device was not been used yesterday; although, this
behavior is just a narcotic needle for using it later on. The issue
before us is very plain , and now I will ask the experts to talk
about these rays and their effects.
Anwar Atta-Allah, physicist in Prince Naiaf
center for
tumors:
First of all, I'd like to thank d. Jomaah El-Saqa for his
speech. And I'd like to talk about the method and concept of
ionizing rays, and the operation of using them in security and in
surveying persons. Then I will leave the microphone for d. Fatmah to
talk about the biological effects of these rays.
All of us know the word ( rays) , but few know
its meaning. For this reason , I want to talk firstly about the
meaning of rays. Rays are divided into three kinds: electromagnetic
waves, mechanical waves, and partial waves. These rays have two
forms: non-ionizing radiation and ionizing radiation. The first
includes a very high level of energy, the second is able to
penetrate through bodies, and to ionize the atoms of elements and
activate them. There are different resources of ionizing radiation:
natural resources, to which man is exposed; and industrial resources
such as x-ray, which is used in the scanning radiation device.
Isotopes and ionizing radiation are used in
different fields.
They are used in medicine, industry,
agriculture and security.
As for security field, ionizing radiation is
used in checking baggage, machines, ships and containers.
The device mechanism depends on a
radiation resource and a radiation detector. Rays emanate from the
radiation source penetrating any body in their way. Then, the rays
are received by the radiation detector. Bodies are rebuild and
appear, then, on a TV or computer screen. Such a device is used
usually in specific ports and airports. After the attack on the
United States of America in 11th September, it has been
used in Heathrow airport for discovering suspects. Suspects had to
choose the way of checking, whether handily or through a radiation
device, and they were informed about the danger of the device before
entering it. Nevertheless, this matter is not experienced here. The
picture exposes all the body organ even his bones, and his clothes
appear as shades. This is a general idea about the device.
Regarding to the bad effects of extra dose, it
is known that the period of having an x-ray survey takes only half a
second. While making a total scanning takes from eight to ten
minutes that is sixteen times of the medical radiation survey. The
more time increases, the more doses of radiation rays are increased.
Being closer to radiation source increases the
received dose. Because the more you are far from the source, the
more you are in safe.
The energy used in the device is very strong
and causes bad effects to the body.
And now let us listen to d. Fatmah to talk
about the biological effects.
Doctor Fattah M. El-Hendy, radiologist in
Al-Sheafa' hospital.
I will focus on the effects of pregnant
woman who is exposed to radiation from the beginning of her
pregnancy to the ninth month of it.
Being exposed to radiation causes
physical defects to the fetus. This radiation has three effects:
hereditary effects, defective effects and biological effects; and
they are different. Hereditary effects transmit from father or
mother to children. This happens when the genital system of a parent
is exposes to radiation. If cells of that genital system are exposed
to radiation, the effects will be transmitted to babies, and that
occurs before pregnancy.
If the dose of radiation directed to cells is
little, the cells would probably return to their natural forms, die,
be divided then die for their weakness, or be changed genetically.
Accordingly, each one of those cases may be transmitted from parents
to babies.
On the other hand, when the exposure takes
place during the period of pregnancy, some results will appear.
1- During the first days of pregnancy,
miscarriages may happen in a form of menses; otherwise, fetus will
die in the first three months or after its birth from some diseases.
2-being exposed during the tenth day to the
third month of pregnancy to radiation is very dangerous because this
is the time of forming bones' cells and nervous system.
3- In the fourth and fifth months, a time of
forming organs, the exposure causes defects in organs construction.
While being exposed to in the fifth and sixth months a baby to be
born is supposed to face psychological problems.
4- Being exposed during the last moth of
pregnancy the baby will suffer from slowness in grow.
Finally, there are many other genetic
diseases that occur to babies. Most of them are defects in organs,
form, or nervous system.
Anwar Yousif Diab, radiologist and prior
lecturer in Al-Quds University:
I
will speak about the differences between the device used in Rafah
crossing point and the plain x-ray device that is used in hospitals.
Plain x-ray device used in hospitals takes one
second for each medical scanning (time is the most efficient factor
in radiation survey). When inventing the first x-ray devices, many
persons were dieing because of the long time of exposure. But this
scanning radiation device, as described by witnesses, is an
ultrasonography device that consists of a camera, which copies some
sections of a body. So, the device moves up and down to introduce a
complete body scan; the matter that requires a long period of
radiation exposure. And, as well as they discovered d. Joma'ah's
handkerchief, they used a law mille ampere level for long time. To
discover micro things, they use ray waves of low level of energy
which is very dangerous to be included in man's body. This method
changes cells into positive or negative ions, or into a free atom
that is able to be divided steadily. On the other hand, this method
changes the atom's construction and become a cancer after eighteen
or twenty years. When the sperm is exposed to radiation, man will
get defected sons in his third generation.
Besides, the device, which uses a level of low
mille ampere and reveals man's body on TV screens, breaks the
standards of humanity and morality, and this is very unacceptable.
Furthermore, the device ionizes the air of its room and turns it
into a poison gas that does not suite breathing. There are many
studies and documents that prove these dangers through experiments
on mice.
Awny Naim, engineer and manager of nuclear
energy and radiation prevention unit in the Palestinian authority.
I will not discuss the illegality of the
excessive amount of radiation that is more than the maximum
permissible dose. But I would like to tell you about studies and
researches belong to German scholars. These papers are concerned
with radiation and its negative effects. They specify the lawful and
unlawful usages of radiation. The papers have been published for
public as booklets since 1983. The range of radiation dangerous
effects on human being has been well-known in international law.
Regarding man safety we must consider three factors: time, distance
and energy.
All of us know that the amount of a dose
directed to a Palestinian traveler in Rafah crossing point is
prohibited individually and socially. According to Geneva treaty,
all the laws assert man's freedom, life and dignity in war and
peace. But the scanning radiation device violates all these
concepts. Besides, it is known that the maximum permissible dose of
ray is one mille curie per year; so, being exposed to rays
repeatedly results in multiple dangerous doses. Accordingly, the
exposure of pregnant women and women in general breaks the
international laws and the Palestinian law project which prohibits
exposing pregnant women to rays except in medical emergencies; that
is when a person must choose between mother and fetus. In addition,
there are international standards formed by the international agency
of nuclear energy suppose that exposing man to rays is related to
necessity; the question here is do we really need being exposed to
rays in crossing points? Let us suppose that there is some suspect
among the Palestinians stand in a raw at a crossing point, does it
justify scanning all the travelers by the device and risking them
just for discovering a suspect? This action doesn’t suit laws
because the accuser is innocent until his incrimination is proved.
But in such a case, all the Palestinians are accused.
Finally, my recommendation is to create
coordination among the concerned authorities and organizations. They
must cooperate not only for removing the device, but also for
stopping many other issues which are more dangerous than the device
itself. Israel is not the only over law country.
Mr. Jmeal Sarhan, coordinator of law unit
in All-Meazan Center for human rights
In relation to the subject, I think that
the order of the speeches suits me to talk in this turn. If the
specialists' facts are approved in medical reports, this case must
be challenged hard. If that is approved, we are the secret goal of a
Zionist well-organized killing plan. This case is another way of
killing that fulfills the Israeli attempts of killing the
Palestinians. On the other hand, we are before a process of
violating human rights that Israel must respect as well as other
international treaties. Israel has to observe the forth Geneva
treaty that considers civilian protection in war or in occupation.
So, Israel is acquired to observe law and protect the right of
enjoying health for each civilian. Besides, the right of enjoying
health means to supply prophylaxis and remedies. According to the
explanations of our experts, there is an aggression to the right of
enjoying health that might be considered as a war crime which
acquires punishing its responsible persons in international courts.
If the long-ranged damage is approved, the harmed must be
compensated, and criminals must be persecuted. If that is approved,
this well-ordered criminality required prosecuting its direct doers
and the Israeli government as well. And I am trying to keep using
the words (if it is approved), because we depend on reports of
institutions related to this issue and of experts able to specify
such matters. When the reports are ready, I think you can bring them
to Israeli courts or other establishments related to law for
removing the danger and compensating the harmed Palestinians. There
are lot cases of Palestinian humiliation and dignity humbling which
are enough evidences for the act of violating human rights.
Israel must observe human rights and it must respect our dignity.
According to what have been said about
the chocks and bad stances that obliged to the Palestinian
travelers, the responsible Israelis of these actions try to affect
on traveler's will and this thing is against the international law
that Israel breaks.
Finally, thank you for accepting our
invitation and I hope that you will keep interacting and considering
these issues. And I hope you will turn your attention towards the
violated child rights. And we witness many situations in which
Israeli soldiers snatch mothers' children till they get out of the
device's room.
Mrs. Huda Hammuda, board chairwoman of the
Palestinian women's information and media center.
Thank you very much. We promise you in PWIC.
To take care of, and adopt any issue related to human dignity and
human health in general, and women's issues in particular.
In the 212th report that published
in Women's Voice newspaper, Majda Ahmad talked with me about
the opening of the first specialized information and media center
related to Palestinian women.
“The dialogue was made with Mrs. Huda
Hammuda, a board chairwoman of the center, about the justifications
of establishing the center, its message and its goals. And here is
the report that published in 31st Mars 2003.
An opening of the first information and
media center specialized in the Palestinian woman have been
announced in Gaza city. The center's message is to support feminine
activities and programs that promote the Palestinian women's
participation in public life. It aims at supporting them with
information, researches, recommendations, data and statistics that
are related to women in different fields. It also provides a
cognitive assistance for centers, institutes, governmental and non
governmental establishments that are related to women's sector in
Palestine.
Women organizations and other
communities, centers and institutes related to women are in a
continuous increase. This increase results in exceptional
international and local considerations to women's sector as an
important evidence of the Palestinian social that has the capacity
to overcome its backwardness and go on towards a comprehensive
development.
According to many researches and field
scans, Hammuda added, these programs and activities directed to the
women's sector did not achieve considerable results comparable to
their budgets and employed manpower. This matter may be due to the
fact that the plans and policies used in these programs are not
based on accurate database and reports that can supply detailed
assessment of priorities and needs. Therefore, it was expected for
many attempts of supporting small projects and creating vacancies to
fail. It is self-evident that the devoted efforts for rehabilitation
and training are spent haphazardly, because they are not based on a
precise study of the local market or the governmental system needs.
Regarding the goals of the center, she
said, the Palestinian woman's information and media center is the
first organization in Palestine that adopts a bi-dimensional
information system concerned with women's significance, role and
accomplishments. Besides, it informs the Palestinian women about
their rights and duties. The center contributes in spreading the
experience and modifying the methods and aids in order to reach the
Palestinian woman and family regardless their cultural or awareness
backgrounds. In addition, the center aims at establishing a
comprehensive information system concerned with women's activities
and participation in public fields and programs. It offers also
special plans and strategies that support woman in order to attain a
concise knowledge of the level of her participation in the
Palestinian community. Another considerable goal is managing a deep
and perpetual debate among the variant Palestinian society
representatives to contribute in pushing new establishments towards
useful participation and activities that reinforce the women's role
in the Palestinian public life. Besides, she continued, the center
looks to organizing intellectual, cultural and cognitive activities
to increase the awareness of the Palestinian woman. The center's
goals includes: encouraging research and study movement related to
women, printing and publishing books, reports and papers about the
Palestinian feminist movement; moreover, the center aims at
preparing drafts, projects, plans, programs and policies provided by
specialists to consider women's affairs.
The center provides also periodical and non
periodical reports that evaluate the performance of governmental and
non governmental organizations that consider woman-related
institutions. On the other hand, PWIC organizes periodical and non
periodical surveys that determine Palestinian women's opinions and
release the accurate percentage of her benefit out of the
specialized institutions, programs and policies concerned with
woman's affairs. The final goal of the center is to found an
organized communication with females groups at the regional and
international levels, and to initiate communication channels among
them in order to exchange knowledge and experience.
The strategies of the center depend on
setting up a database that includes statistics, information,
reports, surveys and releases about women's health, care, children,
environment, education, training, law, predictions, heritage,
culture, innovations, researches, election, leadership, social
participation, violence, discrimination, family, marriage and work.
The strategies includes creating a specialized
library that includes books, releases and prints about women's
affairs and establishing a bibliography for this purpose.
The center has been founded, Hammuda said,
by personal efforts. It has not received any external finance except
5000$ from Al-Qattan institution for covering the rent of PWIC's
headquarters and the coast of some furniture; in addition to some
desks granted by Gaza governor.
Moreover, Hammuda said, the center will
discuss the possibility of publishing periodicals, reports and non
periodical bulletins. Besides, the center will establish a
broadcasting production unit in cooperation with public and privet
broadcasting agencies, and will found a TV and film production unit
that produces programs, news, documentary and prerecorded reports
for covering women's needs. For the same target, she added, the
center takes into consideration using an electronic web site and
electronic media to address variant categories of women that are
increased remarkably such as female students, employees and workers.
On the other hand, the center will create a specialized unit for
researches and field scanning in order to encourage feminist
research movement and organizing periodical and non periodical
questionings. Moreover, the center will found a unit for performance
evaluation to measure the efficiency and influence of the
woman-related organizations in Gaza strip.
Although women's civil work witnesses a
remarkable activity and increasing number of its workers, it lacks
completely for an information center that supplies this sector and
provides others with censuses, scenes, researches, data and
recommendations that help form good policies and programs. Because
the present and available data and information about women's sector
do not depend on specialized and academic studies or researches.
After revising some documents in the
ministry of interior, there was no governmental information related
to women sector. So, the project of the center comes to redress the
problem of information absent and to supply information to be used
well and to improve the performance of feminist activities.
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