Mortar Fire Injures Israeli Arabs during Humanitarian Operation

Three men injured by Hamas fire are all part of the same Israeli-Arab family. They were taking family members wounded in Gaza to Israel for medical treatment.

Three Israeli Arabs were injured Sunday afternoon at the Erez Crossing checkpoint by a mortar shell fired from Gaza. As a result of the incident, which occurred during the transfer of Gaza patients for medical treatment in Israel, authorities announced the closing the Erez Crossing checkpoint between Israel and the territory, citing heightened risk to life.

Shortly thereafter, the IAF destroyed the launchers used in the attack.

The three injured were taxi drivers who were preparing to take a group of Gazans from the crossing to Israeli hospitals. Two of the wounded remain in serious condition. At least one of the patients was headed to Hadassah-Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, according to one of the injured drivers who works for the hospital and is related to the victim.

The other two drivers were identified as residents of the Bedouin town of Rahat.

Recounting the incident, Meir Yitzhak, one of the Magen David Adom paramedics dispatched to the scene following the attack, told Tazpit News Agency that he was at home in Kibbutz Yad Mordecahai when he received the call.

“We rushed over to the area with an ambulance and identified three wounded, including two in serious condition with shrapnel wounds in the abdomen, and another wounded in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds in the upper limbs,” Yitzhak said.

“We evacuated the wounded to a secure area close by. In the background, we continued to hear whistling and mortar hits,” he added.

Following initial treatment, the wounded were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

In response to the attack, Israeli officials decided to close the crossing except for life-saving operations.

Author: Ze’ev Ben-Yechiel, Tazpit News Agency