Middle East News

Gaza official: 250 wounded need urgent transfer to Egypt (Extra)

Dec 29, 2008, 9:21 GMT

Gaza City - At least 250 Palestinians who are in serious condition after being injured in the Israeli bombardments of Gaza need urgent medical care in hospitals in Egypt or Israel.

Some 313 Palestinians have been killed over the past three days of massive Israeli airstrikes, Gaza emergency services chief Mu'awia Hassanein told reporters in Gaza.

He said at least 1,400 have been injured, more than 800 of whom have been hospitalized and many of whom were unable to find vacant beds.

Hamas, the radical Islamic movement ruling Gaza, has rejected an offer by Cairo to send the seriously wounded to hospitals in Egypt, with spokesman Fawzi Barhoum saying his movement would not send wounded people to Egypt so long as Israel did not allow medical supplies to enter Gaza.

Israel has imposed a near-total closure on Gaza in response to rocket and mortar attacks from the strip, allowing in only sporadic humanitarian aid. Thirty trucks with food and medical supplies entered Gaza Sunday.