Wounded Gazans arrive in Jordan for treatment

AMMAN, Jan 01, 2009 (AFP) - Eight Gazans wounded in Israel's onslaught arrived in Amman for treatment on Thursday on board a Jordanian military flight from the Egyptian city of El-Arish, state television said.

Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi received the eight Palestinians, who were immediately taken by ambulance to the military-run Queen Alia Hospital in the capital.

"The kingdom is ready to treat our wounded Palestinian brothers whenever the need arises," Minister of State for Information Nasser Judeh told the television.

"The most important issue now is to stop the Israeli aggression."

Judeh said a field hospital ordered by King Abdullah II to be set up in Gaza "is ready to go there once some arrangements have been made."

An official said on Wednesday that Jordan was to evacuate 40 Palestinians. "Additional flights might be scheduled later to transfer more wounded Palestinians," he said.

Since the massive aerial attack was unleashed on Saturday, more than 400 Palestinians, including 42 children, have been killed and nearly 2,000 people wounded, Gaza medics say.

Only a tiny number of the wounded have been evacuated across the border to Egypt.