07/14/14 07/14/14 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] >> from pacifica, this is democracy now! least 172, the number of palestinians who have been killed so far. among them, 140 civilians including 30 children. no israelis have been killed. we will speak with attorney diana buttu who served as a legal advisor to the palestinians in negotiations with israel. and we will go to gaza for the latest. then occupy wall street protester cecily mcmillan is freed from prison after nearly two months in jail. she brings with her a message

from the women she was jailed with. usily mcmillan will join live in the studio. all of that and more coming up. >> this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. thousands of gazans have fled their homes amidst a relentless israeli bombing campaign that has now killed over 170 people, most of them civilians, since it began a week ago. the united nations estimates over 80% of the dead are civilian, of whom 20% are children -- at least 36 dead. over 1200 palestinians have been wounded, nearly two thirds women and children. over 940 homes have reportedly been severely damaged or destroyed, over 400,000 people are without electricity, and over 17,000 people are displaced.

this week and the deadliest strikes to date, including a bombing that killed 18 members of the same family. thousands of residents of northern gaza have abandoned their homes to head south after the israeli military warned them of impending attacks. one displaced resident ascribed an israeli leaflet telling locals "any moving body after noon will be struck." in addition the bombing homes, israel has carried out a number of attacks on gaza civilian infrastructure. the palestinian center for human rights says the targets have included charities, parks, sports clubs, and a mosque. on saturday, two women were killed and four others critical he wounded when an israeli missile strike a center for the disabled. >> these are the targets of net now who -- netanyahu. these are the targeted. they are children. itthe israeli military says

fired a warning rocket to alert the centers disabled residents of an impending bombing. but this under structure told "the new york times" no one understood the warning and that residents were "too handicapped to have fled the building on their own in any case." in a statement, the u.n.'s office for the coronation of human agenda fair said -- a spokesperson for the u.n. high commissioner for human rights likelyrael's attacks violate international law. >> we have received to put disturbing report that many of the civilian casualties occurred as a result of strikes on homes. such reports raise doubts about whether the israeli airstrikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law. >> the u.n. has also voiced concern over ongoing

indiscriminate rocket fire from militants in gaza into israel. hundreds of rockets have been fired so far, causing the drug killings. israeli teenager was critically wounded sunday in a rocket attack. on saturday, the united nations security council passed a measure calling for cease-fire, although with no timetable attached. the current security council president briefly -- briefed reporters. membersity council called for de-escalation of the .ituation the security council members for logistics of humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. >> protests against the attack on gaza continue around the world. over the weekend, tens of thousands rallied in countries including argentina, chile,

colombia, canada, germany, britain, scotland, sweden, norway, australia, france, syria, pakistan, india, and japan. here in the u.s., rallies were held in cities including detroit, san francisco, los angeles, chicago, and columbus. iraq continues to face nationwide violence amidst an ongoing impasse over forming a new unity government. sunnis, shiites, and kurds are all pushing different candidates for the key posts of prime minister, speaker of the parliament, and president. the talks began this month, but quickly broke down. a parliamentary meeting on sunday was adjourned after just 30 minutes, with the neck session scheduled for tuesday. this comes as sunni militants continue to carry out attacks as they expand their shrum hold in the north and west of iraq. on sunday, militants led by the islamic state route killed six people and seized government buildings in a town north of baghdad. on saturday, an unidentified gunmen killed 26 people,

including 20 women in an attack on a building in baghdad. the site had been linked to prostitution. the death toll from a suicide rooming -- bombing in per click on friday has reached 28. a newly disclosed report has revealed pentagon concerns over its effort to advise the iraqi military. according to the "new york times," u.s. military analysts have concluded that only half of iraq's military units "are capable enough of american commandos to advise them." the assessment also concludes iraq units are so infiltrated by either sunni militants or iran-backed shiites, that u.s. advisers would face threats to their safety. the u.s. has brokered a deal to resolve a political crisis in afghanistan over last month's disputed presidential elections. limiter results show world bank official ashraf ghani beating opponent abdullah abdullah by about a million votes. abdullah supporters have

protested. secretary of state john kerry appeared with both candidates to announce a full audit of all 8 million votes. >> this is a tense and difficult moment, but i'm very pleased that the two candidates who stand here with me today and president karzai has to up and significant ability to compromise. with respect to national unity, both candidates have agreed to abide by the results of the audit and that the winner of the election will serve as president and will immediately form a government of national unity. >> the agreement follows a power dispute that saw abdullah threatening to form his own government. over 1500s show civilians have been killed in afghanistan this year, an increase of 17%. the u.s. and iran are holding high-level talks today had of a deadline on a deal over iran

stinker program. secretary of state john kerry has met with the iranian counterpart mohammed javad zarif . both sides say they remain at odds over several key issues, including iran's nuclear fuel making capacity. he reaffirmed iran's claim to peaceful nuclear program, and defended building underground facilities in light of repeated threats from the u.s. and israel. to everythingit and anything that would provide credible assurances from the international community that iran is not seeking nuclear weapons. because we are not. we don't see any benefit in iran developing a nuclear weapon. when the u.s. talked about bombing iranian facilities, what did you expect aranda do? iran would create a facility that is not susceptible to being bombed. that is what any rational country would do. cox congressional republicans are vowing to trim president

obama's $3.7 billion spending request for the migrant crisis on the southern border. the funding would be used to speed up deportations as well as improve care for thousands of children being held in detention .enters republicans say they intend to make cuts when the house appropriations committee takes up the measure tuesday. over the weekend, senator john mccain of arizona hold -- hold for the national deportation of children held at the border. >> we have to move quickly to repatriate these children. the only way that this is going to stop is if planeloads of children arrive back in the country central america they came from and their parents see the $3000, $4000, $7,000 that paid it human traffickers is wasted. that is the only way this will stop. >> in a rare point of agreement with the white house, several republicans have backed president obama's request for a

waiver that would let the government to poor children from guatemala, honduras, and el salvador as quickly as it does those from mexico. a 2008 anti-trafficking law says children from countries to do not directly border the united states must be allowed to stay while their cases are processed. opposed thes have waiver. on friday, democratic commerce member get your us to the current crisis should not draw attention for the need for need fore of reform -- copperheads of reform. >> i with the president to be bold and generous as the republicans had been heady and mean-spirited on immigration. he cannot let the current turmoil at the border, which we would be doing an even better job of controlling if congress addressed immigration reform. we cannot let this crisis distract us from the record-breaking levels of deportation and the threat of deportation are taking a devastating toll on american communities throughout our

nation. >> attorneys for going, but prisoners have argued their clients deserve the same religious protections recently granted to the corporate chain hobby lobby. in a ruling last month, the supreme court ruled that most private companies second religious objections can refuse to provide birth control coverage to employees as required by obamacare. the court cited a federal law protecting religious freedom. appearing before the d.c. district court last week, defense attorneys that their clients should be considered persons under u.s. law and should accordingly be entitled to the same protections as hobby lobby. among several demands, the prisoners are challenging groupt -- the denial of prayer at guantánamo. the justice department argued against the defense, senate prisoners are not persons entitled to religious protections. defense attorney jon eisenberg said -- the world council of churches

has become one of the most high-profile groups so far to endorse divestment from fossil fuels. the council central committee has endorsed a proposal that will phase out its holdings in all corporations profiting from carbon dioxide emissions. the world council of churches represents 300 churches with over 590 million members in 150 countries. the group 350.org said the vote could mark the most important commitment on fossil fuel divestment so far, adding -- detroit creditors, including public workers and retirees, have submitted their final votes on the city's plan to emerge from bankruptcy. the measure would cut pensions scrapto 4.5% and cost-of-living increases. supporters have backed the plan on the grounds it would avoid even worse cuts in the line,

while opponents urged a no vote by arguing pensioners are entitled to what they were promised. if approved, the plan would free up hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding. unofficial tallies show a majority of retirees and pensioners have voted in favor, but final results won't be known until next week. detroit is wasting and water crisis where the city has shut off service to thousands of households over unpaid hills of as little as two months. the free prisoner of war bowe bergdahl is returning to active duty. the pentagon says six weeks after his release by the taliban, bergdahl would take a post at the texas base where he has been receiving treatment. he will also meet with investigators probing the circumstances surrounding his capture in afghanistan. the legendary jazz bassist, composer, political activist charlie haden has died at the age of 76. in the late 1950's, he played in ornette coleman's ground

breaking quartet, which changed the shape and sound of jazz. over the years, haden won countless music awards and played with many other jazz greats including john cole train, don cherry, and archie shepp. he also emerged as one of the jazz world's most politically outspoken musicians. during the middle of the vietnam war, he and the liberation music songs from thed spanish civil war, antiwar songs, and a tribute to che guervera. in 1971 coming was jailed in portugal for dedicating a song to the black liberation movements. in 2006, he reform the liberation music orchestra. in an interview on democracy now! he discussed his life's work. >> it is about beautiful music and playing music from all over the world with other musicians were dedicated.

it is up to us to bring beauty backing of this world. it is up to the people in the , it is up to us to try and make a difference in this world and try to make this planet a better place to live for all human beings -- living beings and stop the cruelty and devastation that is going on. chuck the late charlie haden, speaking in 2006. she died this past weekend. to see the full interview, you can go to democracynow.org. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. we begin today's show in the gaza strip where israeli defense forces and tanks are positioned along the border in the seventh day of israel's offensive. as of this morning, the palestinian death toll has

reached at least 172, among them 140 civilians, including 30 children. according to gaza's health ministry, more than 1200 people have been wounded. this week and brought the deadliest strikes to date, including a bombing that killed 18 members of the same family. no israelis have been killed. on sunday, the israeli military dropped leaflets and sent text messages to warn residents the northern palestinian town to evacuate the area as it planned to intensify its large scale bombing campaign. one displaced resident described israeli leaflets telling locals "any moving body after noon will be struck." in addition the bombing homes, israel has carried out a number of attacks on gaza civilian infrastructure. the palestinian center for human rights says the targets have included charities, parks, sports clubs, and a mosque. the humanitarian affairs office estimates thousands have been

displaced in gaza, almost 1000 homes destroyed. on saturday, israeli shelling killed two disabled women and wounded four when a tank shell struck a rehabilitation center in gaza city. a member of an angel and screw spoke to the media. crew spoke to the media. >> these are remains of children. these are the targets of netanyahu. they are children. and in new organization for the disabled. >> the human secretary general ban ki-moon has expressed alarm at the escalation in fighting as the security council is to manning a cease-fire. his office released a statement that -- on sunday, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu told the israeli cabinet that responsibility for civilian

deaths in gaza lies with hamas. >> we don't know when this operation will be over. it may take a long time and we need your support and your discipline. hamas uses the residents of gaza as human shield and it is bringing disaster on the residents of gaza, therefore, the responsibility for any harm done to civilians in gaza, which we regret, the responsibility is on us. >> militants in gaza have fired hundreds of rockets at israel. for more we're joined from harvardd university by diana buttu, a legal advisor to the palestinians in negotiations with israel. she was previously an advisor to palestinian president of boss. we welcome you to democracy now! can you respond to the latest news from gaza? >> yes, amy, in addition to the killings of people, there been homes that arealestinian

been destroyed as well as the water infrastructure. this war is taking place against the sibling population and don't really designed to bring down the -- deliberately designed to bring down the population. this is why we been calling for international intervention hold israel accountable to make sure this stops. >> can you talk about how you see this ending? >> the problem is, i don't see it ending. the real issue here is whether israel will be held accountable. so far, there hasn't been any international actor to step forward to say anything to israel, to do anything against israel. there have not been sanctions lobbied against israel or statements. at the end of the day, it will simply be a question of whether it is rockets tired of continuing to bomb civilian population. we have seen this in the past when it has carried out bombing campaigns against lebanon and the previous bombing campaign against gaza.

they usually and when israel or public opinion turns against israel. at this point in time, i don't see any action being taken the stock israel from continuing to carry out this attack. >> i want to turn to comments made by into miniature night on the weekend on fox news. >> here's the difference will stop we're using missile defense to protect our civilians and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles. that is basically the difference. this is terrorist rocketing, trying to kill as many as they can. they're not succeeding because, one, developed this incredible with u.s.ssile system help, and i want to thank the american people, president obama, the u.s. congress for helping us fund this amazing development. the other reason we are succeeding, some of the rockets do peers through the shield and

the reason we are succeeding is because we are targeting the rocketeer's. the rocket tears are firing from homes that are command post from s.ihadias and jyot we're not going to give them any unity, so we have to attack them. we try to minimize what we can something casualties. >> that was the israeli prime minister on fox this weekend. missile we're using defense to protect our civilians and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles. that is basically the difference, he said. >> this is simply israeli propaganda at its finest. when you look at the death toll and see the numbers, they speak volumes. we see 80% of the people killed are civilians and nearly half are women and children, and you see who their bombing, it is a

population, 43% of whom are under the age of 14, then this is very easy to pierce through the propaganda. i think it is important to keep in mind that when israel talks about to and what they're targeting, they've never property any proof or evidence for what it is they're trying to hit. any proof or evidence for what it is they're trying to hit. when all of this is over, israel has never allowed independent investigators to come in and see what it is israel is doing. at the end of the day, as much as israel tries to claim they're not targeting civilians, they are in the casualties speak claims. to the week we spoke senior adviser to israel's ambassador to the united states. i asked him about the killing. at that point, it was more than 100 palestinians have been killed by israeli air strikes, most of them women and children. this was his response. >> any civilian death is not only a tragedy, but a failure as well. we reviewed every single

operation and every single strike to see how we can improve. we have hit over 800 targets to try to stop these rockets, to try to stop this indiscriminate missile fire against our civilians. out of those 800 targets, i will be honest, the precision is quite outstanding. there is no military in the history of the world that has actually used such precision targets. think about it. enemies -- we tell hamas where we are going to hit. text messages, phone calls, leaflets in order to get the billions out of harms way. but for them, civilian deaths is actually a success. >> that was the senior adviser to israel's ambassador to the united states, responding to my question about the number of palestinian children and women who have been killed will stop he talked about precision bombing. diana buttu, your response? >> he is precise.

he is precisely bombing children and women. if there targeting is so precise, then a are targeting women and children and civilians. at the end of the day, as much as they can say this is somehow an aggression against some element within the gaza strip, we know otherwise. the death tolls in these past three aggression's against the gaza strip amid these past three massacres, lay out the picture that is happening there. it is important to keep in mind what we're talking about in the gaza strip. this is a place that is twice the size of washington, d.c. with 1.8 million people in it, half the population under the age of 18. 43% is under the age of 14. if you're age seven, you have been through three bombing campaigns by the israelis. at the end of the day, as much as the israelis want to claim they're using target precision devices, etc., the toll is really being taken out on palestinian civilians.

to date, the israelis have dropped more weaponry and more three-week over the campaign that took place in 2009. >> they say they're launching an response -- in response to the rocket fire from gaza. >> this is another myth. it is important to keep in mind what the events were that led up to this whole issue. there were three israelis who had gone missing in the west bank. even though the israelis knew they were killed, the israelis immediate we put palestinians under collective punishment. they arrested more than 500 palestinians. they killed 11 even before the attack on the gaza strip. they ransacked 2000 homes. they ended up demolishing quite a few homes. it became clear this was going to spiral out of control. wasamin netanyahu said he

going to try to escalate to go after hamas, even though they had no evidence. what he really intended to do was try to break this national unity government. he knew very well that international support was alongside the palestinians itsuse israel had continued settlement activity in failed when it came to the peace process, and needed to bring international support act to israel by carrying out a bombing campaign. >> trying to destroy the unity deal with hamas, they say. as well as the recent efforts for international recognition by joining you in conventions. can you respond to this? >> this is very much part of the strategy. if you think back to where we were a couple of months ago, we were at the end of the peace process, the peace process that failed in large part because

were entirely because the israeli side continue to build more and more settlements. even john kerry said he was exasperated by the situation. the national unity government was formed. israel kept trying to break that national unity government. international community was not willing to side with israel on this, recognizing this national unity government was the best thing for palestinians. to try tohis best break it. he tried to do it through propaganda and now trying to do it with this military assault. all the while, trying to shift focus onto hamas and what hamas is doing and ignoring the fact he is actually heading a government that consists of people who call for the ethnic cleansing of palestinians. >> can you explain who those are who are firing rockets at israel? who are the forces within gaza and what is the response within the population? peoplee are different

who are firing rockets. some of them are members of islamic jihad, others are with smaller organizations, and some are members of hamas. to be quite honest, i don't know. it is unclear. the response of the palestinian population is mixed. on the one hand, palestinians recognize their needs to be some defense and they need to defend themselves against what israel is doing. on the other hand, there are some palestinians who are critical and saying this is just simply going to wreak more havoc on palestinian lives. at the end of the day, they recognize who is dropping the bombs, which is the israelis. the only way we can move forward is to talk about protecting palestinians and having an international protection force that is there to protect palestinians. this is something the israelis have refused to do over time, nothing now is the time we begin to talk about this issue once again. >> what has been the role of the united states? >> the united states has been

the biggest enabler for israel. we haven't heard any combination by secretary john kerry. were obama. instead, we heard israel has a right to defend itself or as we know what israel is doing, defending its military occupation. we have not heard anything regarding the death toll that has been inflicted on palestinians and the efforts made by some palestinians to broker a cease-fire. instead, it has been a hands-off system of allowing israel to do whatever it wants to do. again, amy, this will not bring this any further to ending the situation. >> to think hamas is ready for cease-fire? >> they have indicated they are, listing out there conditions. get a piece fire brokered. he said netanyahu rejected it. netanyahu keeps indicating he

will not entertain the talk of a cease-fire. dore's been urgency bring to so because of the fact there's been no international response against what israel is doing. , what are the conditions hamas has laid out for cease-fire? >> the primary conditions are for israel to stop the attacks. another condition, they have indicated they should release those prisoners that were rearrested in this round up after the three israelis had gone missing will stop have also indicated are put forward other conditions relating to the movement of people, etc. interestingly enough, that not mention anything about the ongoing siege, which i think is one of the main reasons that this continues. >> diana buttu, thank you for being with us, attorney based in palestine, though she's at harvard university right now where we are's aching to her in cambridge, massachusetts. diana buttu has served as a

legal advisor to the palestinians in negotiations with israel. when we come back, we go directly to gaza. stay with us. ♪ [music break]

>> this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. we continue to look at the situation in gaza where israeli defense forces and tanks are positioned along the border in the seventh day of israel's offensive. and the minute we will be joined by two guests who been monitoring the health situation on the ground in gaza. as of this morning, the palestinian death toll has reached at least 172, among them including civilians, 30 children. according to gaza's health ministry, more than 1200 people have been wounded. militants in gaza continued to fire rockets at israel, though no israelis have been killed. we go now to gaza where we are

joined by two doctors on the line. dr. mona el farra is the director of the gaza projects for the middle east children's alliance, also the health chair of the palestinian red crescent society of the gaza strip. us,dr. mads gilbert is with norwegian dr. providing medical assistance in gaza. recently submitted a report to the united nations on the state of gaza health sector in 2014. let us begin with dr. mona el farra. where are you now and can you talk about the situation where you live and work? >> hang on, and me. hi, amy. troops are positioned on the border. gaza came oninst

very to tear eating situation and the gloomy situation as well. you mentioned children. and the number of civilians that have been killed. people arepalled .uying the lies about civilians i am appalled about this. [indiscernible] if israel is using

experimental [indiscernible] i'll have dr. gilbert explained about this. amputations and head injuries and different sort of .ounds women and children and civilians in gaza are under home arrest because of the situation. an increasing number of children are complaining of perforated eardrums because of the intensity of the shelling. it has been so severe. i would like to talk much about -- i would like to give a message to the world, we are human beings.

israel is trying to put trey the story to the world -- portray the store to the world they are defending israel. explain, hamas was a democratically elected institution. you find hotels, banks, institutions linked to hamas, that means israel is trying to destroy gaza. hamas is not just about the exchanging rockets with israel. there is a 1.8 population under attack. .e hardly sleep not just health workers, but the whole population are not sleeping because of the

intensity of the attacks. want to say ii care for children and civilians everywhere. i am a doctor. i care for israeli children as well, but there's a huge difference between children [indiscernible] and other children who don't have clean water or shelters to go to. dire andving under a difficult situation. now, zero have been killed on the other side. i am very angry and appalled. and the more attacks by israel more bitterness and will never guarantee peace

for israel. that is all i'm china say this moment. i would like to add that hospitals have been attacked, institutions. no place is safe in gaza at all. in the early morning hours, streets are deserted, even in the afternoon. few number of people are outside their homes. we are looking for cease-fire and to at least go back to the 2012, a the year complete lifting of the siege of gaza and opening the borders. and not to be subject to these attacks.

appalled. >> dr. mona el farra, we're also joined by dr. mads gilbert who has just come back to gaza who submitted a report to the united nations on the state of health in gaza. dr. gilbert, i know you have a long line of patients there, and we hope to have you all on satellite connection, but it is very difficult with the electricity going out constantly , rarely in the media c direct reports from gaza in the same way you do from jerusalem, from other parts of israel. dr. mads gilbert, what are you seeing right now? >> i'm cigna staffing of the hospitals doing their out most to care for the people, the palestinian people who are being bombed constantly but of the dust overwhelming military force of the israeli military. is impressive to see the

resilience and determination and the way they cope with this extremely harsh conditions their in now. 170ou said, so far, palestinians have been killed, among them 36 children and 24 women. 232 injured, 346 children and 256 women. the majority of those injured are women and children. this tells you these attacks are not targeting the military in palestine and gaza. these attacks are targeting the whole population in order to intimidate them and to force them to give up their resistance. time i go to gaza, and is the same story. israelis are accusing the palestinians of attacking them

and they claim they're defending themselves. the truth is the opposite. israel is the attacker, the occupant. internationally, they're responsible under the law. [indiscernible] to kill them and make their lives as difficult as possible. i would like to add, i work in a norwegian hospital and we're depending on the same preconditions to handle mass casualty situation. most hospitals are denied a constant supply of energy or water or disposable medical trucks, all the items i need to run the hospital. on top of this, total drainage of resources, they're now exposed to this constant and very large flow of very severely

injured. they're not crippled. they stand tall. that doubled or tripled their shifts. they do 24 hour shifts. everyone is extremely tired and exhausted, but they don't yield. they don't leave their positions. yesterday, the hospital director 's home was completely bombed and destroyed the israeli forces. and we have nurses and doctors and other ambulance drivers being injured and even killed. it is important to understand the palestinians are suffering, but they are not begging. yes, they are oppressed, but they're standing extremely strong together in a time of crisis. as a medical doctor, my appeal is, don't send medical teams and syringes. the most important medical thing you can do now is to force israel to stop the bombing and to lift the siege of gaza, then

the palestinians will manage well themselves. as for the injuries, there are all types of war injuries from shrapnel injuries to these very extreme damages from the using tos that they're make carried by hellfire rockets andted to the drones they're extremely disruptive. people are torn apart. they lose their arms and legs and are killed. they are charcoaled by the burns if they're hit by these explosives. we have had gruesome am absolutely gruesome injuries which people cannot actually watch. the most important injuries are those that are maimed without killing. i was tending to a 24-year-old palestinian student who lost

both his legs. we had to amputate both his legs. both arms were severely burned and now yes septicemia. well-equipped hospital with peace and security to handle one such patient, no they have them by the hundreds. the other patient was a burns fromld who had the roof of the ceiling of his bedroom falling on him. he has severe injuries. we don't know if you'll survive. what do these people do to deserve this treatment? what did these people deserve to do -- what did these people do to deserve the support of u.s. to attack others this way? where is the decency of the u.s. government allowing israel this impunity to punish the whole civilian population in gaza? it is outrageous.

the main problem in the middle east today is the israeli ingenuity. kill andrd year they candl maim. the palestinians will never surrender. our duty is to support them and raise the awareness and solidarity in our countries to pressure our politicians to change their attitude toward the real oppressor and the real criminal here, the state of israel. >> dr. mads gilbert, the attack on the center for the disabled where two women were killed, can you talk more about that? do you know about that? >> of course i know about that. this is a well-established hospital, which is doing rehabilitation work for the disabled, not at least, the war injured. the hospital is located in an area which these really military obviously wants to flatten in

order to have or easy access for their tanks. i was not there, but reports i had were they actually had soldiers from israel go to the hospital and targeted it in killing these people. as was nothere w security for hospitals or ambulances. i mean, if there's one nation firmly supported by the u.s. which is violating the geneva convention, violating international treaties in all aspects, it is israel. they don't even respect hospitals. and why don't the open court or so the hospitals in gaza -- so the hospitals in gaza can be reached. even those very, very basic provisions which are anchored in international law about are denied the palestinians. >> i want to thank you both for

being with us, dr. mads gilbert, norwegian dr., providing medical assistance in gaza. he recently has returned and summit at a report to the united nations on the state of gaza's health sector, cemented to the u.n. refugee and works agency. dr. mona el farra, gaza projects for the middle east children's alliance, also with the palestinian red crescent society of the gaza strip. i know you have a lot of work to do. thank you for taking the time to speak to us. when we come back, cecily mcmillan joins us, just out of jail, the occupy protester. stay with us. ♪ [music break]

legendary haden edition and poet died friday the age of 76, 1 of the most politically outspoken jazz musicians from also cofounder of the liberation music orchestra. to see our interview with charlie haden, go to

democracynow.org. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. 12 days ago, occupy wall street activist cecily mcmillan was driven to queens, new york and dropped off on the side of the road, with only a metrocard after serving nearly two months in jail. her sentence for allegedly assaulting a police officer was the most severe served by any of the thousands of occupy wall street activist arrested over the course of the movement. to the occupy movement, mcmillan's case had become a symbol of police and judicial overreach. she was sentenced to jail even though nine out of the 12 jurors who convicted her pleaded with the judge or leniency him a saying they did not think she should serve any time behind bars. inily mcmillan was arrested march 2012 as protesters tried to reoccupy the ducati park, six months after the occupy wall street movement began. she said she felt someone grab her right breast from behind,

swung out instinctively, striking her assailant who turned out to be a police officer, grantley bovell, leaving him with a black eye. mcmillan says she then suffered a seizure as police pinned her down and arrested her. she was later treated for posttraumatic stress disorder. she appeared on democracy now! six days after her arrest covered in bruises, including one in the shape of a hand print above her right breast. a 40 something our stay in jail and ended up with these bruises. i have an open casing can talk more about it. i'm sure you can tell it would be difficult for me to remember have these, but i that was cecily mcmillan right after her arrest. rejected her claim she was brutalized by police.

she was convicted of second-degree assault and faced up to seven years, shocking even some of the jurors who convicted thisho did not know the during the trial. one juror later told "the guardian," most wanted her to do probation, maybe some community service. ultimately sentenced to three months in jail, five years probation, released earlier this month and joins us now. welcome. >> thank you for having me. >> how are you doing? you spent your time at rikers. >> yes. it is very discombobulated to be out now. returny, it is hard to key to my loving and supporting committed the act essentially creating a family and their, people who really understand what it means to have all of

your agencies taken away, to be constantly in a humiliating and oppressive situation and then to be out here, everything from selecting a now fit to learning how -- an outfit to learning how use the internet. >> the response, not only of the jurorside, but themselves. what was your response to them? it is very rare to write a letter like that to a judge, to say, do not imprison her. >> i was very thankful they stepped forward and they did get themselves organized an up front on my behalf. that thereshocked was, as my lawyer said, the smoking gun, the handprint on the chest scratch marks, and the story i had maintain the entire time versus officer bovell the

change to stories a couple of times -- to hear another woman look at you and say, aliens might well have sexually assaulted you, as a form of rape culture -- >> what do you mean? >> that is what the dea said, it was more likely aliens assaulted me then officer bovell. ,ssentially said i was a liar which is something women experience all the time when they try to speak out against sexual assault or's. >> so you went to jail. describes a day in jail. >> every day is mostly waiting. you have to wait -- i never went to say: was there for less than six hours. you could be waiting for up to 12 hours. even sometimes 12 hours two or three days in a row. there are constant searches were your major will lay face down, but your hands find her back and it is a three to four hour

process were dogs can be brought in around you, strip searches all of the time. deep knee bend. deep knee bend. everything about -- the best thing i could say that might share some sort of insight is, in the entire experience i was there, i think i had a grand total of 30 seconds ever alone in an elevator were there was nobody there and yet the camera was still watching me. literally, from using the restroom to changing -- i mean, your body is no longer your own. >> what was the message of women knowing you were getting out now to people on the other side of the bars? >> it was a big discussion. we have launched some campaigns while we are in there, particularly, neil and recreation was called at the same time, forcing women to choose between the four services. in order to get their antidepressant medication or eat

or spin the 45 minutes allowed , toide in the sun that day correspondence to the family and loved ones. by the time i was moving toward leaving him a we have had sort park-liketti participatory democracy where we really did discuss the fact there was no rehabilitation ever , whatsoever, that is realistic. and what were the list and demand that could be put forth in order to make the changes. i firmly believe those who struggle understand the source of their struggle best, therefore, understand fruition. there are 53 little pieces of paper on my team reading out what these women said. essentially, going for a sick tenets of what -- basic tenets of what we've been talking about, the democratic party, as far as i've lived, we talked about health care, access to health care, emergency medical services. cox one woman died while you were in prison? >> yes.

well, not one woman died. one woman that i personally witnessed died. a 17-year-old died the day i left. ands came in to our dorm she seemed fine and within three days, she had been reduced to looked tolood, what be chunks of her liver. she had mean at this point for over 20 for hours. she was so confused, she was set on other people's pets. she did not know where her bed was. a medical professional came out and she was not enthused about the idea of going down with people who had denied her her medical services before. they said, ok, she said she did not want to come with us so we're not going to take her down. delusional. she was there is no way she could've have made any sort of decisions for herself. it was not until the inmates rose up -- i mean, got her dressed and carried her down and said, this is a medical

emergency and you have to take her to the hospital. she's standing there covered in her own blood. the doctor said, huh, you call this a medical emergency? they waited there with her until they made sure she went to the hospital where she remained in clinical care commission until her death a couple of weeks ago. >i would like to say this is not an anomaly. i witnessed women that had stomach cancer that could not help themselves up, having crying out for hours. their roommates, the family and medical professionals showed up and would not help her up on the gurney as the gurney who did two wills that said, were not helping her. every single day, there was something like this. foxworthy go from here? >> on behalf of the inmates, i will be calling on the mayor's office, city council, the board of corrections. we have already started looking

into what community oversight councils they have -- and there veryew, and not at all working. we will be: for every inmate to have a thorough examination and psych examination upon entering the facility and the group that covers rikers is reviewed and make sure it is in the best interest of all of the inmates. we will also be asking for a grievance process. the director of insists omnipoint like, she's not accountable to uphold the employee -- inmate hamburg because she did not write it. also, career training and housing resources for women who are returning to families and would like nothing better than to stay out of jail amid be happy, and take care of their families. i don't understand what we think of as prisoners in this country. >> we have to leave it there. the system might be very sorry you ultimately were imprisoned, cecily mcmillan. thank you for being with us, wal.

a member of the democratic socialists of america. that does it for our broadcast. democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail the

>> skid row is a neighborhood of 50 blocks, which does not appear on any map of los angeles. [woman vocalizing]