Gaza City, August 16 (RHC)--In Gaza, health officials say doctors have been forced to halt chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients because of severe medication shortages.  The officials say the shortages have been exacerbated by Israel’s decision in July to seal a key border crossing, a move Human Rights Watch has denounced as “collective punishment.” 

Also in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes destroyed a cultural center in Gaza City last week.  A photo in the aftermath of the bombing shows Palestinians holding the cultural center’s sign, surrounded by the building’s rubble. 

And former CNN host Reza Aslan has spoken out about being detained by Israeli authorities while he was crossing into Israel from Jordan two weeks ago.  Aslan said the Israeli authorities told him to write down the names of Palestinians and journalists that he knew, and threatened him, saying: “If you don’t cooperate, it will be a long time before you see your kids again.”  

Aslan spoke out after Jewish-American journalist Peter Beinart also went public about his recent detention and questioning by Israeli authorities at Ben Gurion International Airport.