Humanitarian & Advocacy support in Palestine
The Australian Friends of Palestine Association has been active over many years supporting medical and allied health services in Palestine, and human rights advocacy on the issue of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons and detention.
Thousands of sight-saving cataract surgeries have been performed by AFOPA member, Dr Francis Nathan, who regularly volunteers his expertise as an ophthalmic surgeon in Palestine and Lebanon for poor families who could not otherwise afford such medical care.
Similarly, AFOPA member, Ms Merlin Nathan, has volunteered her expertise as an occupational therapist to help Palestinian families in need and to train health care professionals in Palestine.
Both Francis and Merlin Nathan have volunteered their services for many years in medical missions with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. AFOPA is proud to support their work with financial contributions towards essential medical equipment and training.
Recently, with the generous support of members and donors, AFOPA was able to provide over $17,000 to PCRF for eye glasses for Palestinian children.
PCRF Report: Providing Medical Eye Glasses
AFOPA has also long-supported the important work of Military Court Watch, who document and advocate about the human rights abuses of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons and detention.
Humanitarian support in Palestine
AFOPA supports Francis and Merlin Nathan on medical missions in Palestine. Recently, Francis Nathan went on an eye surgery mission with the Palestine Childrens’ Relief Fund (PCRF) in the West Bank, from the 9th to the 15th of November.
"It is also a sector where change and challenges are constant. Every year brings new technological and scientific advances, new risks and threats to public health, and ever greater societal expectations for higher standards of health. As their main comprehensive primary health care provider, UNRWA has played a key role in promoting the health and well-being of millions of Palestine refugees over the past 70 years."
"When Ayman woke up, however, the room was bare and the nurse in front of him wore a strange blue gown and gloves. I didn’t know about the infection in the bone until I came here. I came out of the operation and found myself in isolation. Ayman is one of the more than 1,000 people in Gaza that MSF estimates are suffering from severe bone infections developed in the aftermath of being shot by the Israeli army."
"This is too, with the monetary and emotional support of the Australian Friends of Palestine Association and its members. The last 2 visits have challenged my expertise and experiences as an Occupational Therapist. I have had to set myself the target of completing in the months since my return, three-course updates in the fields of General Occupational Therapy, Paediatrics and Autism."
"“Among other things, the destruction of private property in occupied territory is only permissible where rendered absolutely necessary for military operations, which is not applicable”, said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Gwyn Lewis, Director of West Bank Operations for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and James Heenan, Head of the UN Human Rights Office in the area."
"He would keep walking for another 11 months. In August 2017, the 25-year-old Swedish activist embarked on a 3,000-mile solo journey through 13 countries to raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinians. Beginning in Gothenburg, Sweden, Ladraa carried a Palestinian flag and walked through Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan."
"During my visit to the neo-natal unit at Makassad Hospital, I met the sole survivor of premature triplets who were born at 26 weeks – doctors had to tell her parents over the phone that both her siblings had died, as her mother had to return to Gaza days after giving birth. This particular baby had been ready to go home since March, yet it was only last week that her mother was issued a permit and was able to collect her and take her home."
"The isolation of the Gaza Strip dramatically intensified during the second Intifada, and then again, following Israel's unilateral removal of settlers (the "disengagement") in 2005 - a development which, contrary to Israeli claims, did not change Gaza's status as Israeli-occupied. "Movement has become the exception, and restriction is the rule," said Hary, whose NGO works to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians."
"They also continued to use force as well during the incursions into the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 11 civilians, including 3 children, a paramedic, and a journalist, while participating in the Return March. Moreover, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded after being targeted in the border area of the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian child."
AFOPA member Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) reports back on his visit to Palestine 1-6 December 2018, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
We are pleased to report a wonderful success with our recent appeal, Medical Equipment for Palestine.
AFOPA members Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) and Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist) report back on their visit to Palestine 24-29 March 2018, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA assists with sanitation infrastructure support for pediatric hospital in the Gaza Strip.
AFOPA members Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) and Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist) report back on their visit to Palestine 28 Oct.-3 Nov. 2017, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA members Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) and Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist) report back on their recent visit to Palestine 15-21 April 2017, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA member and Occupational Therapist, Ms Merlin Nathan, reports back on her recent visit to Lebanon, 19-25 February 2017, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA member Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) reports back on his recent visit to Lebanon, 19-25 February 2017, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA member and Ophthalmologist, Dr Francis Nathan, reports back on his recent visit to Palestine, 22-27 October 2016.
AFOPA member and Ophthalmologist, Dr Francis Nathan, reports back on his recent visit to Lebanon, 13-18 August 2016.
AFOPA members Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) and Ms Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist) report back on their recent visit to the West Bank, Palestine, 7-11 May 2016, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
AFOPA member and Ophthalmologist, Dr Francis Nathan, reports back on his recent visit to Lebanon, 26-29 March 2016.
AFOPA member and Occupational Therapist, Ms Merlin Nathan, reports back on her recent visit to Lebanon, 26-29 March 2016, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).
Advocacy support in Palestine
At the end of February 2019, there were 205 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 40% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of January 2019, there were 209 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 42% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of December 2018, there were 203 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 49% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of December 2018, there were 203 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 49% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of October 2018, there were 220 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 60% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of August 2018, there were 239 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 58% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of June 2018, there were 273 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 54% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Also in this issue: evidence update based on 33 testimonies collected from children detained in 2018; the Netherlands responds to the unlawful transfer and detention question; a 15-year-old boy describes the night the military delivered a summons at 2 a.m.; a soldier describes how the took over a Palestinian home and damaged it; and an eyewitness account of the military courts from an Australian MP.
At the end of June 2018, there were 273 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 54% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Also in this issue: evidence update; UK Government confirms full application of Fourth Geneva Convention to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza; Australian Government's ambivalence towards rules based international order; ICC issues decision on outreach for victims in Palestine; and testimonies from a child detainee and a soldier.
At the end of May 2018, there were 291 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 52% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Also in this issue: MCW Annual Report; UN Secretary General extensively reduces focus on children in military detention; UK lawyers' report - 6-years on; and Military Order 1798 translated into English.
At the end of April 2018, there were 315 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 53% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of March 2018, there were 304 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 53% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of February 2018, there were 356 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 51% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of December 2017, there were 352 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 52% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of November 2017, there were 313 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 51% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. There is no data for December or January.
At the end of November 2017, there were 313 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 51% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of June 2017, there were 318 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 74% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At the end of June 2017, there were 318 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 74% of children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) continues to experience difficulties in providing accurate and timely information regarding the number of Palestinian children in its detention facilities.
The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) continues to experience difficulties in providing accurate and timely information regarding the number of Palestinian children in its detention facilities in accordance with an outstanding Freedom of Information application (FOI application).
At the end of May 2017, there were 331 Palestinian children held as 'security prisoners' in Israeli prisons. 74% of these children were detained inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.