The Dixmude, a French helicopter carrier, has been docked in the Egyptian port of al-Arish, 50 km (30 miles) west of the Gaza Strip, since November. Israel has targeted the largest remaining hospitals, saying Hamas fighters are operating there, something Hamas denies. Those lucky enough to cross into Egypt, like 16-year-old Ahmed Abu Daqqa, who was injured on Nov. 1, faced long waits for medical care. Doctors in Gaza "took out the shrapnel and put in two rods, but a month later they discovered more shrapnel in my knee. He and others on board the French ship were awaiting further transfers to hospitals in Egypt or abroad.

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Persons: Alexandre Blonce, Gazans, Israel, Ahmed Abu Daqqa, Ahmed Fahmy, Mohamed Abdelghany, Nafisa, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: ARISH, Egypt, Gaza, French, al, Arish, Palestinian, Italy