Karen Rodman (Gwendolyn) is a United Church Ordained Minister and a pro Palestinian activist who is affiliated with the annual Al-Quds Day rally and other anti-Israel protests in Canada. She is also the founder and executive director of Just Peace Advocates.
On July 17, 2020 Karen Rodman posted on Facebook:
[Justin] Trudeau [Canda’s prime minister] if you really are world leader re Covid19 as you told countries during the UNSC bid, now would be the time to denounce this war crime, and get the Covid19 center opened in Hebron NOW!
Karen Rodman shared a Facebook post by Just Peace Advocates:
URGENT: Covid-19 facility ready to open Hebron stopped by military. Hebron is a major Covid19 epicenter.
Take a minute & send letter to all Canadian MPs.
Urge elected officals to insist Trudeau live up to his commitment to be the world leader in helping countries combat Covid19 (as per his bid for UNSC seat #NoUNSC4Canada).
If outside Canada, you can send letter too. Let Canada know the world is watching.
Yes humanitarian action can involve stopping war crimes!
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-letter-to-mpps-about-the-israeli-military-order-to-stop-covid19-facility-in-hebron-opening
The proposed letter by Just Peace Advocates reads:
Write letter to all Canadian MPs about the Israeli military order to stop Covid19 facility in Hebron opening
NOTE: the facility was destroyed the morning of July 21, 2020. Please sent letter using: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-letter-to-trudeau-on-hyprocrisy-on-canadas-covid-19-leadership-that-does-not-include-palestine/
The Israeli military has issued a stop work order to a Covid-19 testing facility in Hebron just as it was about to open. Hebron is a current epicenter almost 6000 cases of Covid-19.
Please take a minute to write to all Canadian members of Parliament.
Urge them to insist that Prime Minister Trudeau indicate to the Israeli government that the military order needs to be removed immediately, and the facility allowed to open.
This blatant disregard for a humanitarian and health crisis needs to be condemned.
Background
As the number of people in Hebron who have tested positive for Covid-19 continues to climb, the Governorate is working hard to prevent the spread of the disease through taking a number of initiatives both on the local and governmental levels.
There are currently almost 6000 positive cases of Covid-19 in the Hebron area.
To assist with this humanitarian crisis, a private individual donated a piece of his land located at the entrance of the City of Hebron to the Hebron Municipality for the sole purpose of establishing a testing and quarantine center for those entering the City of Hebron.
The Municipality provided water and electricity connections while the Ministry of Health was set to run the testing after the completion of the building process.
Due to the urgency, with Covid-19 cases increasing at 300 a day in the Hebron area, work on the establishment of the center was ramped up over the last week, with the center being expected to open by around July 18, 2020.
However, on July 13, 2020, the Israeli military went to the location, confiscated building materials, and issued a Military Order 1797 indicating the intent to demolish the building.
You can read more about the Covid19 facility in Hebron in Mondoweiss
Also about Israeli military violations in the midst of Covid19 crisis.
On July 17, 2020 Major General, Kamil Abu Rukun, the Head of the Coordination of [the Israeli] Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), issued the following statement (originally in Arabic):
In recent hours, false rumors have been spread across social networks about the intention of the Civil Administration and the District Coordination Office in Hebron to demolish a building that was destined for conducting coronavirus tests in Hebron.
Contrary to the allegations that have been rumored, originally there was no plan to build a compound for conducting coronavirus tests in this place.
This is just a lie, as the discussion was about the foundations of a building illegally constructed in the place for personal ends. This is what was reported by the developer himself to officials of the Civil Administration.
Regarding the signage that was hung in the place indicating a plan to build a compound for conducting coronavirus tests there – this is a lie, as it was not hung until after a stop-work order [demolition order] was delivered in this place and after the building equipment was confiscated.
The Civil administration received no application regarding the building of a compound for conducting coronavirus tests in this place, either from the Palestinian Authority or from international organizations.
Related article: Israel demolished Hebron car dealership, not ‘COVID-19 center’
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