JERUSALEM, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ziv Medical Center in Safed, where seven Syrian refugees are currently receiving medical care, believes that more Syrians are expected to follow the example and cross into Israel to receive medical treatment.
Seven Syrian men crossed into Israel from the Golan Heights on Saturday seeking treatment after they were wounded in the ongoing fights near the border.
All of them were taken immediately to Ziv Medical Center, close to the border.
"Of the seven, one is in serious condition, the other six are moderate after being treated, with one of them sustaining a bullet wound in his abdomen," the hospital's director, Oscar Embon said during a conference call.
It is the first time the hospital, or any other place in the country, treats wounded from the ongoing civil war in Syria.
Up to now, Syrian refugees along with the wounded have preferred to cross into Turkey and Jordan.
But after the news of these seven men spreads, doctors are expecting others will follow their example, since the fighting is getting even closer to the border with Israel.
"I can only imagine others will come too now. If they do, we are prepared to receive more, and the hospital has a big trauma unit, so we enlarge the number of staff if there is a need for that, we can cope with it without difficulty," Embon said.
However, Embon was unaware if the men were Syrian soldiers or rebels.
He noted that they are under the responsibility and surveillance of the Israel Defense Forces, and once the treatment finishes, they will be handed over to the army.
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