Egypt receives 36 infants from Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital

Egypt’s Ministry of Health has announced on Wednesday that the country has intention to take 36 infants from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, adding that it will be “dangerous.”

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health, said: “we were asked to receive 36 newborn babies in incubators. We are making efforts to receive them as soon as possible,” according to CNN. 

He further added: “we have 36 ambulances equipped with portable ventilators, waiting at the border to receive the children and bring them immediately to our hospitals.” 

Abdel Ghaffar continued that the process is dangerous, explaining: “it requires a ready ambulance with mobile incubators, to bring them to the border, and we must be ready to receive them immediately.” 

Moreover, he referred to the coordination with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), which indicated that they are attempting to accommodate three children in a single incubator due to a lack of sufficient energy resources. 

On Tuesday, the health authorities in Gaza declared that they are open to the idea of transferring infants from Al-Shifa Hospital, provided there is a well-defined procedure for it.

This announcement came in response to an Israeli statement discussing the coordination of incubator transfers to the Gaza Strip, in anticipation of these infants’ evacuation.