People’s Health Movement calls for
Immediate Cessation of Israeli Offensive in Palestine and Lebanon and for UN Intervention

Ramalla (Palestine), 17th July, 2006: The Israeli offensive in Lebanon and Palestine is collective retribution against civilians in breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and carries a high risk of all out war.
The People’s Health Movement (PHM) calls for an immediate withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, immediate cessation of the attacks on Palestine and Lebanon, immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza and for the establishment of a strong UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Middle East.


The PHM is an international network of grass roots health organisations in over 90 countries including Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, United States and the Middle East. In PHM’s view social, economic and political factors, including conflict and war, undermine the health of the world's people, especially the poor, the majority of whom live in developing countries. The deaths, injuries and loss of livelihood in both Israel and Palestine are tragic but the burden has been carried disproportionately by the Palestinians. In the first 48 hours after the incident of the 5th July, 35 Palestinians including children were killed by Israeli forces and 150 injured. In Lebanon, five straight days of Israeli attacks have killed 181 people, including children, and injured over 500. Another 350,000 displaced people, most of them women and children, are seeking refuge in schools and other public places. Food, water and medications are in short supply. For a small country like Lebanon (area:10,452 m2, population: 3,500,000), its infrastructure like airport, harbours, bridges, ro