The daughter of a senior Hamas official in Gaza has been treated for a heart condition by Israeli surgeons in Ashkelon, as she was too sick to travel to Jordan.

The girl, aged 3, who is the daughter of Hams Interior Minister Elham Fathi Hammed had previously been treated unsuccessfully in Gaza.

Jordan’s King Abdullah is believed to have personally requested the Israeli authorities to allow the girl to be transported through Israel for surgery in Jordan.

Because of the girl’s critical condition, surgeons in Bazilai Hospital in Ashkelon has to stabilise her condition and repair the damage done by the surgery in Gaza before she could be moved to Jordan.

She was later transported to Amman, Jordan by helicopter. She is believed to have left hospital earlier this week.

No Jordanian or Palestinian media reported on Israel’s role in the girl’s treatment but Mr Hammed issued a public statement thanking King Abdullah and Jordan for saving the girl’s life.