Gaza evacuations suspended since Saturday after ambulance targeted -Egypt sources

Israel said the attack on the ambulance comes after the IDF confirms it was carrying Hamas terrorists attempting to escape IDF fire; Qatar says trying to resume evacuation of wounded
Ynet, Reuters|
Evacuations of injured Gazans and foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing to Egypt have been suspended since Saturday, two Egyptian security sources and a medical source told Reuters. One of the security sources and the medical source said the evacuations were suspended after an Israeli strike on Friday on an ambulance in Gaza said to be used to transport injured people.
< Follow Ynetnews on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok >>
Read more:
The Rafah crossing to Egypt's Sinai peninsula is the only exit point from Gaza not controlled by Israel. Aid trucks were still able to travel into the territory, two of the sources said.
2 View gallery
מעבר רפיח
מעבר רפיח
Ambulances carry wounded out of Gaza for medical attention in Egypt
(Photo: EPA )
Evacuations began on Wednesday under an internationally brokered deal aimed at letting some foreign passport holders, their dependents and some wounded Gazans out of the enclave. Unlike on previous days, the Gazan border authority on Sunday did not publish a list of approved foreign passport holders and dependents.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated in coordination with their home countries, along with dozens of injured Gazans who are receiving medical assistance in hospitals in Sinai.
Qatar, which has played a major role in facilitating humanitarian aid and hostage releases, said it was doing its best to resume the operation of the crucial exit but there was no timeline for when the crossing would re-activate.
2 View gallery
הסוס שנפגע ליד בית החולים שיפא
הסוס שנפגע ליד בית החולים שיפא
A Gaza ambulance after it was attacked by the IDF
(Photo: Momen al-Halabi / AFP)
"The bombing of hospitals and the bombing of ambulances, which are part of this agreement for ambulance convoys to move patients out of harm's way, certainly does not help," said Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a briefing on Sunday. "We urge all parties, but especially the occupation army to make sure that there is safe routes and that that the agreement, as it was reached, is respected," he added.
Israel said the ambulance was attacked after the IDF confirmed it was carrying Hamas terrorists attempting to escape Israel's fire.
The United Nations Secretary General and aid agencies working in Gaza have condemned Israel's air strike on an ambulance on Friday, which the Israeli military said, without showing evidence, was carrying Hamas militants.
The Health Ministry, a hospital director and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the Hamas-controlled enclave have said the Israeli strike targeted a convoy of ambulances evacuating wounded people from the besieged northern Gaza area.
Comments
The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
""