What to do about orchestrated email campaigns

The BMJ is to be lauded for the original publication of Derek
Summerfield's article about the medical effects of the Israeli occupation
of the West Bank and Gaza. In my opinion, the follow up articles this week
are also an important contribution to the ongoing debate about how this
occupation is reported. Doctors everywhere have a duty to research,
publish, discuss and condemn the activities of armies of occupation when
they increase mortality and morbidity in the occupied population. If we,
as medics, turn away from this duty, we condone the harm done to civilians
in these situations. I have yet to see any evidence that the Israeli
Medical Association (IMA) is fulfilling this duty in relation to the
Israeli army. There is evidence of serious war crimes committed by the
Israeli army in the recent conflict in Gaza. Jewish Peace News reported
that the army made extensive use of white phosphorus in civilian areas.
International law prohibits the use of this weapon near population areas.
White phosphorus causes terrible burns on its victims. That it was used at
all in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, is an
outrage. Has the IMA criticized its use? Jewish Peace News also quotes a
number of doctors in Gaza who report injuries caused by a new weapon, a
form of Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME), also used in civilian areas by
the Israeli army. As well as causing terrible injuries including
amputations, these weapons disperse tungsten micro-shrapnel throughout the
body of the victim. Those who survive the original blast often later
succumb to septicemia and organ collapse. These are the legitimate
concerns of a medical journal. Hopefully, we will see an article from the
IMA tackling the Israeli army on this subject. In the meantime,
congratulations to the BMJ for publishing Derek Summerfield’s paper and
for refusing to turn away from those who are suffering the effects of
military occupation.

Competing interests:
None declared