Gaza: Operation Cast Lead Weapons Caused Birth Defects

Weapons Used In Operation Cast Lead Caused Birth Defects In Gaza Babies

By Julie Webb-Pullman

New research published today in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found a “causative/favouring role” between exposure to white phosphorous weapons during and following Operation Cast Lead, and birth defects (BD) in Gaza newborns.

The researchers stated that “Children with BD were born with higher frequency (p < 0 001) in families where one or both parents were under “white phosphorus” attack, than in the general population. Bombing of the family home and removal of the rubble were also frequently reported by couples with BD occurrence.” They pointed out that their data show that in the majority of cases the birth defects occurred in families with no previous history of birth defects, and that the same malformations occurred in unrelated families who had similar exposure to white phosphorous and other bombing events. The authors, from the universities of Naples and Genoa in Italy, and El Shifa Hospital in Gaza, said that the correlation they found between children with birth defects and the war exposure of their parents raises serious concerns about the effects of weapon components on developing embryos, which should be further investigated. A PDF of the full article can be downloaded here: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1732

ENDS

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