Jordanian army accuses Israel of damaging hospital

AFP | Amman

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Jordanian army accused Israel on Wednesday of damaging a Jordanian field hospital in the Gaza Strip and wounding two people during bombardments of the territory.

The hospital in Khan Yunis, the biggest city in southern Gaza, was severely damaged due to nearby Israeli bombing overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, the military said in a statement.

The bombing wounded a hospital medic in the right thigh and hand, the army said, and the medic would be evacuated by air to Jordan for medical treatment.

A Gazan civilian receiving treatment in the intensive care unit "was also injured by shrapnel and a bullet during the aggression", the statement said, citing a senior military source. "The Jordanian armed forces hold Israel fully responsible for the safety of hospital staff," it said, adding that the strikes were a "flagrant violation" of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention.

It urged Israel, "the occupying power", to not take "any measures that prevent or hinder medical personnel from carrying out their duties". The statement said the hospital would "continue to perform its medical and humanitarian duty".