Erez crossing
Photo: AP
Palestinians stranded at crossing
Photo: AP
IDF preventing evacuation of injured Palestinians from crossing
Army does not allow Magen David Adom ambulances to evacuate civilians wounded in clash between Hamas, soldiers Monday. Officials explain opening of gates may result in people attempting to forcefully enter Israel
Israel is preventing the evacuation of injured Palestinians from the Erez crossing into Israel, for fear this would lead to people storming the checkpoint and trying to cross into the Israeli side.
One Palestinian was killed and several other were wounded during a gunbattle between Hamas members and soldiers at the crossing Monday. The injured, who cannot receive treatment in the Strip following Hamas' takeover, begged the army to allow them to entry into Israel, but were refused.
Clash
IDF troops, Palestinian gunmen exchange fire at crossing between Israel and Gaza. TV report says Palestinians opened fire at soldiers, who returned fire. There were no Israeli casualties, report says
A number of Magen David Ambulances were summoned to the place by the Erez crossing unit in order to evacuate the injured, but the IDF later issued an instruction banning the evacuation. The ambulances eventually left without the wounded.
Deputy director of MDA's Lakhish district, Mushon Vaknin, told Ynet, "There are several shooting casualties at the crossing, we're not sure how many. We have a contact in Gaza's Red Crescent organization with whom we were supposed to coordinate the evacuation."
A senior IDF official told Ynet that there was no intention of allowing Palestinians to cross into the West Bank from Gaza, except in certain cases. He confirmed that there were several injured and sick Palestinians at the crossing, but added that at the present they would not be allowed entry.
Military officials explained that an opening of the gates at the crossing might lead to a situation where dozens of Palestinians, or even more, would attempt to forcefully enter Israel. The forces at the place needed to properly prepare for such a scenario, they added.
According to the army, there are currently some 150 Palestinian civilians at Erez crossing. The number, which stood at 300 until several days ago, dropped after many of them realized they would not be able to enter Israel and returned to the Strip.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
