IDF soldiers in Golan Heights (archives)
Photo: Avihu Shapira
Critically wounded Syrians treated in Israel; one dies
Number of Syrians wounded in civil war met by Golani soldiers at border; those in critical condition secretly transferred to hospital in Israel with army chief's authorization; one pronounced dead
A number of injured Syrians made their way to the border with Israel Wednesday morning, the IDF said. Two of the Syrians, who were critically wounded, were evacuated to Israeli hospitals with the authorization of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz.
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The two, who are in their 30s, were initially taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, but were later transferred to a hospital in Nahariya. One of them was pronouncd dead several hours after being hospitalized. The remaining Syrians, who sustained light injuries, were treated at the scene by IDF paramedics and then released.
The IDF said the injured Syrians were met at the border by Golani Brigade soldiers and were secretly transferred to Israel under heavy security for fear that - if identified - they would be harmed upon their return to Syria. All of the wounded are residents of the Syrian-controlled central Golan Heights region.
This past month has seen a number of incidents in which Syrians who were wounded in the civil war arrived at the border and were taken for treatment inside Israel. In mid-February seven injured Syrians were evacuated to the Ziv Medical Center. Six of them were released a week and a half later and returned to Syria. The seventh Syrian, who is in moderate condition, remains hospitalized at Ziv's surgical ward.
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