Injured Rebel Fighter Brings Letter from Syrian Doctor to Israeli Medical Staff
by Zach Pontz
The Syrian government, which has repeatedly accused Israel of aiding Syrian rebels in their war against the regime, claimed it had further proof Wednesday that the Jewish state was, at the very least, providing humanitarian assistance when reports surfaced that an injured anti-government fighter arrived at the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, with a letter instructing doctors on how to treat him.
According to Israel’s Channel 2, the rebel fighter was suffering from a serious gunshot wound that could not be successfully treated in Syria. The letter, written by a Syrian doctor, explained the wound–a bullet had fractured the man’s ribs and caused damage to his diaphragm and liver—and that he was suffering from heavy internal bleeding. Furthermore the Syrian doctor explained that he was unable to sew and bandage vital areas and thanked the Israeli doctors for any help they could provide.
Dr. Oscar Ambon, director of the Ziv Medical Center, told Channel 2 that the patient had been handed over by UN forces after spending several days in Syria. Since arriving at the hospital, the soldier has undergone surgery and is currently in critical condition, he added.
In an interview that aired Saturday with Al-Mayadeen, a pro-Hezbollah media station in Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s close aide Bouthaina Shaaban accused Israel of collaborating with Syrian rebels.
“When we hear in the media that wounded armed gangs were transferred to Israel for treatment, I say that maybe it was all the work of undercover Israeli soldiers,” he claimed.