Seven wounded Syrians are being treated in an Israeli hospital after being brought there by Israeli soldiers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called their treatment “exceptional, isolated cases.”

The men were wounded Feb. 16 near Israel’s security fence with Syria in the Golan Heights during clashes between the Syrian army and rebel forces in Syria’s 2-year-old civil war. Israeli soldiers brought the Syrians to Ziv Hospital in Tsfat, according to the daily newspaper Haaretz, which said they likely are rebels.

The men are being isolated from other patients and are expected to remain in the hospital for one week.

During the regular weekly Cabinet meeting Feb. 17, Netanyahu said the fighting in Syria is approaching the Israeli border.

“We will continue to guard our border and prevent passage and entry to Israel, except for exceptional, isolated cases, [and] every one will be considered on its merits,” he said. — jta