This is the neonatal unit of the bomb-sheltered section of Barzilai hospital, down in Ashkelon. When the rockets start flying overhead, and sirens start blasting in response, the hospital staff moves the critical care patients and the babies, incubated and everyone else, to the secure area, under layers of fortified cement.
It’s a very complicated process, made easier, unfortunately, by the fact that they have to repeat it so often. Imagine having to move a patient who is connected to a whole bunch of tubes and monitors down endless corridors, elevators, halls.
It’s definitely a team sport.
The funny thing is, even while the rockets are flying from Gaza, Barzilai hospital continues to accept and treat patients who come in from… Gaza. Last night I heard from IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich that 14 Gazan patients have been admitted since the start of the hostilities.
We care for their sick, we ship them food and provisions, we renew their fuel supply, and we provide them with electricity. Even as the fighting is going on.
What beautiful idiots we are.