“Israeli” offensive causes birth defects in Gaza

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Friday that eight months after the war, the disastrous consequences of the three-week onslaught on Gaza continue to affect the lives of the people there.
Palestinian officials have warned about the high increase in the number of birth defects in babies born in Gaza following the "Israeli" offensive on the coastal strip.

According to Dr. Mowaiya Hassanen, an official in the ministry, "Israel's" use of internationally banned weapons, including white phosphorus and depleted uranium, has resulted in a series of abnormalities in newborn babies in Gaza, ranging from heart defects to brain abnormalities.

Medical experts had earlier predicted that the illegal use of the chemical weapons in the densely-populated area would cause a long-lasting tragedy.
According to Gaza health officials and human rights groups, "Israeli" forces killed over 1,400 Palestinians, including more than 900 civilians, in the offensive.

The uncovering comes shortly after a UN Human Rights report accused "Israel" of deliberately violating international humanitarian law and using disproportionate force during its "Operation Cast Lead" against the people of Gaza at the beginning of the year.

"The "Israeli" operations were carefully planned in all their phases as a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorize a civilian population," the fact-finding mission --led by former South African constitutional court judge, Richard Goldstone-- said.