Abdel Salam Fayez
GAZA, Palestine (AA) - The Gaza Health Ministry announced Wednesday that 172 injured Palestinians and their companions have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt for medical treatment since the beginning of November.
Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qedra, who made the announcement did not specify the locations of treatment.
“We lose dozens of critical and severe cases daily due to the Israeli occupation's prevention of the wounded from leaving,” he added.
Israel targeted ambulances Friday that were carrying injured Palestinians after they had left the Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip.
The attack resulted in 15 fatalities and 60 injuries. Israel claimed the ambulances were carrying members of Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry denied the claims.
Al-Qedra pointed out that “thousands of critically and severely injured cases do not have access to treatment in Gaza hospitals.”
In early November, the first group of dozens of war-wounded Palestinians from Gaza and hundreds with dual nationalities, began entering Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, according to Palestinian and Egyptian statements.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala