For the first time since the intifada, an Israeli ambulance enters Palestinian territories in order to evacuate critically injured baby

A bullet-proof Israeli ambulance entered the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday in order to save a six-month old baby in critical condition after reportedly inhaling toxic substances.

This was the first time a Magen David Adom ambulance entered the Palestinian territories since the second intifada broke out in the year 2000.

Up until now, MDA ambulances would only go as far as the IDF checkpoints, where they would pick up Palestinian patients in need of medical care in Israel.

Immediately after receiving the Palestinians' call for help, the Civil Administration's West Bank division called MDA requesting paramedics from Jerusalem take on the mission. Two Arab-Israeli paramedics took the call.

The paramedics evacuated the unconscious baby, just a few hours after two other babies, who went to the same daycare center as the boy, died of similar symptoms.

MDA believes the babies were poisoned, but it is not clear with what or how.

Upon arriving in Ramallah, the ambulance was escorted by a convoy of Palestinian police, who accompanied it all the way to the hospital, and blocked roads to ensure it got through safely.

The MDA team reported that the baby was handed over to them in a professional manner, along with all the needed medical documents. The team was in constant contact with the Jerusalem dispatch.

The baby was taken to the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, along with his parents, who received a special permit from the Civil Administration due to their son's serious condition.

A source from the Palestinian Ministry of Health told Ynet that all humanitarian matters, especially those concerning human lives, should be separated from political issues.

Ali Waked contributed to this report

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3383023,00.html