With hospitals in Gaza unsafe, due to Hamas' misuse, the move to establish alternative treatment centers gains traction
Israel looks to establish medical facilities to treat Gazans
Italy's Defense Minister announced on Wednesday that his country would send a hospital ship to treat wounded Gazans as a result of the Israel-Hamas war, Iron Swords.
The Italian ship is scheduled to depart on Wednesday evening with some 30 medically trained personnel, according to a Reuters report.
On Monday, France announced that it was in negotiations with Egypt to set up a military field hospital with surgical facilities.
That is, in addition to the Tonnerre helicopter carrier, which France already dispatched to the region to help support Gazan hospitals.
Sebastien Lecornu, Minister of the French Armed Forces, said his country will dispatch a second helicopter carrier to the area within the next two weeks.
"The Dixmude helicopter carrier, which will be reinforced with medical capacities, will be sent soon to the zone to relieve the Tonnerre helicopter carrier," Lecornu said.
The French effort is being made in addition to an Egyptian field hospital at Sheikh Zuweid, 15 km (9 miles) from the Rafah Border crossing.
Also on Monday, the United Arab Emirates announced it would establish a field hospital within the Gaza Strip.
According to Gulf Business, the UAE sent five aircraft on Monday with supplies and equipment for establishing the Emirati field hospital. Another six aircraft are expected to depart soon.
A Ynet news article reported that the Gaza field hospital initiative has involved the Israeli government from the start.
The UAE field hospital will be established in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces, which has determined the safest location for the medical treatment facility.
Israel has released multiple pieces of evidence showing that the Hamas terror organization uses medical facilities in the Gaza Strip for terror purposes.
According to the International Red Cross, international Humanitarian Law states that hospitals are subject to losing their humanitarian protection status if being used for combat purposes.
While Israel has refrained from directly targeting hospitals in the war so far, including hospitals that have been proven to actively host Hamas terrorists, that policy could change as the war progresses.
Israel is interested in establishing alternate medical facilities, not controlled by Hamas, where Gazans can receive treatment.
This would also open the possibility for the IDF to strike hospitals actively being used by Hamas.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
