RAMALLAH, February 9, 2011 (WAFA) – Minister of Health Fathi Abu Mugli said that a Jewish mother gave birth to her child in Palestine Medical complex Wednesday in Ramallah.

He said: “A Jewish woman who was in Ramallah came to the Medical Complex suffering from an abdominal pain and after being examined she turned out to be in labor.”

 “Doctors asked the woman if she wants to stay in the hospital or to be transported by ambulance to one of the Israeli hospitals. The mother refused and insisted on staying and delivering the baby in the Complex,” he said.

She delivered a baby boy, weighing 2.3 kg (5.1 pounds) and because he was premature, he was put in an incubator (newborn intensive care unit, NICU), Abu Mugli said.

He added that the mother and baby are in excellent condition.

He said that the Palestinian side called the Israeli side and informed them of the baby’s birth. The Israeli side asked them to transfer the mother and the baby to Israel however the mother refused and insisted on staying in Ramallah.

“I arrived in Ramallah two days ago,” she said, “to do some shopping for my expected baby.”

President Mahmoud Abbas sent a bouquet to the mother, and checked on her and her newborn’s condition, Abu Mugli said.

F.R.