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IDF field hospital for Gazans

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IDF field hospital for Gazans
Israeli Defense Force
Geography
LocationErez Crossing, Israel, Gaza Strip
Coordinates31°33′29.52″N 34°32′41″E / 31.5582000°N 34.54472°E / 31.5582000; 34.54472Coordinates: 31°33′29.52″N 34°32′41″E / 31.5582000°N 34.54472°E / 31.5582000; 34.54472
Organisation
TypeField hospital
History
OpenedJuly 20, 2014

The Israel Defense Forces opened a field hospital at Erez Crossing on July 20, 2014, intending it to be for sick and injured Palestinians from Gaza.[1][2][3]

The hospital was opened in response to reports by Gazans and news media that the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict had caused a dire shortage of medical facilities in Gaza.[4][5] The decision to set up the hospital was made by the Israeli government following the recommendation of the coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories General Yoav Mordechai, and approved by the IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.[6]

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli soldiers at Erez Crossing attempted to persuade families to take relatives to the field hospital for treatment, rather than making the journey to a Palestinian-run hospital in East Jerusalem.[7] IDF Lt.-Col.Sharon Biton from the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories stated that "some" of the refugees passing through the Erez Crossing "refused to get medical treatments" in the Israeli field hospital.[8] The IDF Spokesman's office asserted that Hamas “prevented Palestinians from entering Israel in order to reach the hospital.”[8][9] A Gazan who asked that his name not be reported told the Jerusalem Post people are reluctant to use the field hospital out of fear Gazans treated in the IDF hospital will come under suspicion by Hamas, which controlled Gaza at the time.[8]

The hospital had 20 doctors, nurses and technicians, a lab, an X-ray device and a pharmacy. Among the doctors were a pediatrician, an ophthalmologist and a gynecologist. The hospital was also equipped for childbirth.[5] Hospital officials reported having saved the lives of several Gazans, including a young man with shrapnel embedded in his chest and an elderly woman whose family had fled, abandoning her in Khan Yunis.[8]

There was opposition on the Palestinian side to injured civilians receiving treatment in Israel thus the hospital stayed almost empty.[8][10][11] Hamas fired ten mortar shells at the hospital.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Israel says field hospital at Erez open for Gazans". Ma'an News Agency. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  2. ^ Brumfield, Ben; Penhaul, Karl; Levs, Josh (21 July 2014). "Israel opens field hospital for Palestinians (scroll down)". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  3. ^ http://www.cogat.idf.il/Sip_Storage/FILES/3/4503.pdf
  4. ^ Akram, Fares; Bernard, Anne (19 July 2019). "In Hospitals Across Gaza, Scenes of Chaos and Grief". New York Times. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Elhanan (3 August 2014). "On Gaza border, an Israeli field hospital stands empty". Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  6. ^ "IDF sets up field hospital for Gazans - Globes". 20 July 2014.
  7. ^ Ziv, Orin (31 July 2014). "Gaza civilians pay price of war". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e Sokol, Sam (4 August 2014). "An Empty Hospital". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b בוחבוט, אמיר (24 July 2014). "מונע מאזרחים טיפול: חמאס ירה על בית חולים שדה שצה"ל הקים". Walla! (in Hebrew).
  10. ^ Wilson, Simone (27 August 2014). "Why didn't Gazans use the IDF field hospital?". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  11. ^ Moskowitz, Jeff (26 March 2015). "Can Israel's Medical Diplomacy Make It the Cuba of the Middle East". Tablet. Retrieved 28 January 2019.

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