Nahariya hospital in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, was the country’s first to be fully equipped underground in order to continue treating patients in wartime. FRANCE 24’s reporters visited the facility as it prepares to treat civilians and soldiers in the event of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya has operated entirely underground, aiming to shelter staff and patients from rockets fired by the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas.
Nahariya’s location, just 6 miles from the border, mean the city is especially vulnerable as Israel ramps up its deadly strikes on southern Lebanon, stoking fears of a full-blown war with Hezbollah.
Staff at the Galilee Medical Center carry out regular drills to ensure they are ready for a major attack. Our reporters Claire Paccalin, Pauline Godart and Mohamed Farhat visited the facility as it prepares to face a wartime emergency.
Click on the player above to watch their report.
Read moreTel Aviv hospital goes underground to shelter patients from rocket attacks