The Ziv hospital in northern Israel is currently on high alert as tensions rise in the region. Non-urgent operations have been put on hold, and staff members have been asked to consider donating blood if needed. In a proactive measure, all patients, including newborns in the maternity unit, have been relocated underground.
The hospital's director, Salman Zarka, expressed the hospital's readiness for potential casualties in the event of Israel sending more troops to southern Lebanon. Ziv Medical Center, located near Israel's borders with Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied Golan Heights, is the primary healthcare facility in the area.
Over the past year, the hospital has been dealing with the aftermath of ongoing conflicts, including treating individuals injured in cross-border fire incidents. Zarka, who is an IDF reservist and a former commander of the IDF's Medical Services Center, emphasized the importance of being prepared for potential casualties resulting from ground combat.
Despite hoping for a peaceful resolution, Zarka acknowledged the possibility of an increase in wounded and deceased soldiers in the event of escalated military action. The hospital's staff remains vigilant and ready to provide medical assistance to those in need during these uncertain times.
