FALCON POWERS – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected on Thursday a proposal to set up a field hospital inside Israel to treat chronically ill children from Gaza, as part of a potential prisoner swap deal.
The newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported that the Prime Minister’s Office informed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Netanyahu rejected this proposal, calling for “the search for other countries that agree to host those children.”
Netanyahu’s office statement said that “in the absence of the Prime Minister’s approval, the field hospital in Israel will therefore not be established.” On Wednesday, Gallant’s office announced the establishment of the field hospital, saying it was due to the long-term closure of the Rafah crossing.
Gallant had informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, of the plan for the field hospital near the Gaza border, during a phone call earlier this week.
The Israeli bombardment and military operations on the Gaza Strip have led to a deterioration of the health situation and the closure of many hospitals. The injured are facing extremely difficult conditions in obtaining the necessary medical care, with dozens arriving daily at hospitals and medical complexes with varying medical conditions.
An Israeli delegation arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to continue the stalled ceasefire talks.
