Black smoke lingered over Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba after an Iranian missile strike left the building devastated and many in shock. Once we arrived, remnants of twisted metal lay scattered across a vast area around the hospital, testaments to the violence that had unfolded hours earlier.
Medical staff hurried to evacuate patients from the emergency department. A man named Alon Uzi, still reeling from the shock of the attack, recounted his experience: “I was lying in bed, and I heard a big boom. Before I could do anything, part of the ceiling fell on me, and I was covered in white dust.” His account underscored the alarming chaos that erupted when the explosion rattled the hospital, prompting immediate emergency responses.
Amidst the wreckage, emergency crews navigated through the thick air filled with debris and chemical odors. They continued their rescue efforts inside the building, where patients were still being evacuated from affected wards. Seventy-one individuals were reported injured by Israel’s Ministry of Health.
Professor Asher Bashiri shared the view from his office in the maternity ward: “It looks unbelievable. The upper part of the building is cracked, and fire was coming from it in the initial hours. We were very, very lucky; it could have been much worse.” Bashiri noted that precautions were taken, moving patients to underground emergency shelters as tensions rose in the region.
Hospital director Shlomi Codish confirmed extensive damage across the medical facility, stating, “We expect that we will be transferring over 200 patients to other medical centres.” He emphasized the urgency of minimizing risks, concerned about the potential for further structural collapse.
Politicians flocked to the scene, expressing outrage and solidarity. Culture Minister Miki Zohar framed the situation as a battle against a regime intent on harming civilians, vowing a strong response. He defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza, distinguishing them from Iran’s actions by claiming they seek to warn civilians before strikes.
The attacks have drawn fierce condemnations from Israeli leaders with accusations directed at Iran’s supreme leader for war crimes. Tensions escalated further when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged to hold Iran accountable for deliberately targeting non-combatants and allowing the war to spiral further out of control.
As military actions ramp up, Donald Trump considered a stronger intervention in the conflict following Iran's missile strikes on Israel, coinciding with a background of targeted Israeli operations on Iranian assets. With both nations demonstrating their military capabilities, the region hovers on the brink of a broader and more devastating conflict.
