JERUSALEM (JTA) — Seven wounded Syrians are being treated in an Israeli hospital after being brought there by Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called their treatment "exceptional, isolated cases."
The men were wounded Saturday near Israel’s security fence with Syria in the Golan Heights during clashes between the Syrian army and rebel forces in Syria’s 2-year-old civil war. Israeli soldiers brought the Syrians to Ziv Hospital in Safed, Haaretz reported, which said they likely are rebels.
One of the Syrians reportedly was severely wounded and the rest were injured from bullets and shrapnel. The men are being isolated from other patients and are expected to remain in the hospital for one week.
During the regular weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the fighting in Syria is approaching the Israeli border.
"We will continue to guard our border and prevent passage and entry to Israel, except for exceptional, isolated cases, every one will be considered on its merits," he said.
Druze communities on the Golan Heights reportedly have asked the army to allow the men to stay in Israel or be sent to a third country that will accept them as refugees, the Israeli daily Maariv reported.
