Gaza shelling: Wounded taken to TA hospital
Magen David Adom ambulances evacuate two Palestinians seriously injured in IDF’s attack on Beit Hanoun to Sourasky Medical Center for treatment; ‘evacuation was delayed as some of those injured in shelling were initially taken to Gaza hospitals,' doctor says
Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulances on Wednesday evacuated two Palestinians who were seriously injured in the IDF’s attack on Beit Hanoun to Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center for treatment.
The two, a 40-year-old man and a 14-year-old child, are members of the same family.
Palestinian morgue (Photo: AFP)
Dr. Ron Greenberg told Ynet, “The man is suffering from head injuries and brain hemorrhaging; he is unconscious and anesthetized. The child also sustained head injuries; he is connected to a respirator at the Dana Children’s Hospital.”
About six months ago Magen David Adom was admitted into the Red Cross organization, and as a member is obligated to offer humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
'Premature babies also treated in Israel'
At 7 a.m., a short while after the attack on Beit Hanoun, MDA Deputy Director Moshe Vaaknin contacted Palestinian health official Ahmed Abu Aza and offered blood donations and assistance in evacuating the injured from the scene.
“We knew since the morning hours that we would be called upon to evacuate the wounded and we prepared for such an event,” Vaaknin said. “It was delayed because some of those injured arrived at local Palestinian hospitals and underwent surgery. Only when the treatment is inadequate are the wounded transferred to more advanced Israeli hospitals.”
The transfer of the wounded was carried out in a secure area at the Erez crossing.
“The MDA medical teams arrive at the scene without prior knowledge of the injured person’s condition,” Vaaknin said. “The team stabilizes the wounded man or woman, and then the evacuation begins. MDA transfers wounded Palestinians to Israel on an almost daily basis, including premature babies and cancer patients.”
In the afternoon hours a 47-year-old Palestinian woman who sustained head injuries a few days ago also arrived at the Sourasky Medical Center; she remains unconscious and connected to a respirator.
The events in Beit Hanoun and numerous Palestinian casualties this past month have only highlighted the dire situation of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Juma'a Squ'a spoke with Ynet Wednesday afternoon: "The hospital is at its maximum capacity, we have several wounded patients in critical condition and the hospital is on the verge of collapsing because of a serious shortage of medical supplies, medicines and irregular electricity. We have the personnel but not the means."
"We saw some very difficult cases this morning," he said. "We saw very difficult images of children, there were people we could barely help. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is very bad both economically and security-wise. People are very angry and agitated. People connect this difficult situation to Israel's violence even after leaving Beit Hanoun.”
