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Egyptians Hampering Rescue Efforts After Taba Hotel Bombing
23:18 Oct 07, '04 / 22 Tishrei 5765

ZAKA reports tens of fatalities and 16 injured have been brought to Eilat's Yoseftal Hospital.

Preliminary reports indicated that Israeli rescue personnel were not permitted to cross into Egypt at first to care for the dozens of wounded. Several lightly injured hotel guests made their way to the Israeli border by foot and were evacuated to Eilat's Yoseftal hospital.

According to Channel 1, Israeli rescue personnel was only permitted to cross the border after half and hour had past due to a call from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Egyptian Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak.

IDF helicopters and members of the Homefront Command's Search and Rescue Unit are waiting at the Israeli border to evacuate the wounded but so far only MDA has been authorized to enter Egypt to treat those wounded in the blast.

"Eight victims with light injuries are being treated at Yoseftal hospital," Dr. Yaakov Hart told Channel 1 Television at 10:45 PM. "We prepared the hospital for an hour so far to receive those injured but for some reason they haven't yet arrived."

Magen David Adom emergency medical service Chief of Operations Yeruham Mandola said that there are “tens of wounded" still at the scene of the Taba Hilton explosion.

ZAKA is reporting tens of fatalities at the scene.

Arabic Radio reported that Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Conflicting reports point to either a car bomb or a suicide bomb attack.

According to a Reshet Bet News Radio report, interviewing an Israeli present outside the Taba Hilton, the damage from the blast is significant, adding the situation is one of general panic and hysteria. Many Israelis are reported in the hotel area, and there is a power outage, further hampering rescue efforts.

Despite several warnings to refrain from vacationing in Egypt, Israelis have flocked to hotels in Sinai during the past month's holidays.

The Foreign Ministry has declared a State of Emergency.