Palestinian evacuated to Israeli hospital from Beit Hanoun
Photo: Gadi Kablo
Relatives of killed in Beit Hanoun
Photo: AP
Child injured in Beit Hanoun
Photo: Reuters
MDA charges for evacuation of Beit Hanoun wounded
Brother of Beit Hanoun victim: I wanted to hear after the IDF announced its mistake, that Israel would pay for all the injured to be hospitalized, MDA: The money taken as was an honest mistake, is being returned to the families as we speak
Two residents of Beit Hanoun, 12 year-old Saeb Utamna and 39 year-old Basem Gasam, were hospitalized at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Wednesday following the IDF’s attack
on the town.
Israel treats victims
Meital Yasur Beit-Or
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
Both were in critical condition and doctors were fighting for their lives. It became known Thursday evening that Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulances charged NIS 2,000 (USD 464.25) for each evacuation, but MDA said it was a mistake and that the money was returned.
Inspite it all, Rason Gasam, Basem’s brother, said, “I don’t have a problem making peace with Israel.”
“Enough is enough. Instead of bombing houses, those firing Qassams should be bombed,” Gasam said, “The problem is with the leaders, not the soldiers. Soldiers receive orders from their commanders.”
Family members of the injured were satisfied with the medical treatment at the hospital, but said they expected things to happen differently. “I wanted to hear after the IDF announced its mistake, that Israel would pay for all the injured to be hospitalized,” Gasam said.
According to him, the hospitalization was being paid for by Palestinian Authority funds that were frozen in Israel.
'Charging for ambulance an honest mistake'
Family members of the injured turned to the Palestinian Health Ministry and requested that their relatives be transferred to Israel, but the PA said it was not interested in doing so, both for financial reasons, and because Hamas doesn’t have a relationship with the Israeli government.“We pressured the Palestinian Authority to transfer the injured. I told them ‘If you don’t move my brother, I will move him at my expense’,” Gasam said. But after reaching an agreement, another uncomfortable situation arose when MDA asked for payment for the ride.
“We payed NIS 2,000 (USD 464.25) for each ambulance. The ambulance driver told me ‘A credit cart won’t do it, without cash, I’m not taking the injured’,” Gasam explained.
The MDA responded, “MDA initiated and offered humanitarian aid in evacuating the injured from Beit Hanoun into hospitals in Israel. The money taken as payment was an honest mistake, and is being returned to the families as we speak.”
Mahil Utamna, Saeb’s uncle, commented on the sensitive situation, “You kill me, and then I need you to do me a favor and get me to treatment. They killed 20 people in three minutes and injured dozens. At 5 a.m. my nephew was still asleep in his bed. His grandmother and brother were killed, his entire family is gone. We have no other place to take the child for treatment.”
The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center regularly treats cancer patients, premature babies, pregnant women, and other patients from the PA. In addition to Gasam and Utamna, three other injured arrived at the hospital Thursday, two from the Gaza Strip and one from Nablus.
Dr. Dror Sofer, director of the Yitzhak Rabin Trauma center in the hospital, said that the patients suffered from head injuries, and one also suffered multi-system injuries. “We’re making great efforts to keep them alive and to save them, but their lives are still in danger,” Dror said.
Responding to the question of what it’s like treating Palestinian patients, Dror said, “We treat all injured the same. I don’t feel a difference between color, nationality, or religion.”
