Black smoke enveloped the Soroka Medical Center as our team arrived, hours post-strike. The missile had wreaked havoc, with twisted pieces of metal already scattered across a vast area surrounding the hospital. Emergency medical vehicles lined the road outside the facility, responding to a crisis that had everyone on edge, with so many fearing an even worse outcome.
Amidst the chaos, Alon Uzi stood outside clutching bags of belongings. He had been in the emergency room when the missile struck, recounting the harrowing moment: "I was lying in bed... I heard a big boom and then an explosion. Part of the ceiling collapsed on me.” His account serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers inherent to patients in such volatile situations.
Inside, chaos reigned in the emergency department where the air thickened with the smell of chemicals and dust. Medical personnel rushed to evacuate patients, some being transported on stretchers from areas within the building that took the brunt of the missiles. Fortunately, many patients had been moved to underground shelters just before the strike, which likely saved lives; reports estimate 71 people injured.
Professor Asher Bashiri, emergency department head, surveyed the extensive damage from his office, "It looks unbelievable. The top structure was cracked, and flames erupted in the first hours." He emphasized the stroke of luck that prevented even greater tragedy and expressed uncertainty about what the future held for them.
Shlomi Codish, the hospital director, confirmed the severity of the attack, detailing the destruction of several wards and the urgent need to relocate over 200 patients to safer facilities. Concerns lingered about potential further collapses amid ongoing military actions.
As ministers arrived to inspect the aftermath, Culture Minister Miki Zohar vehemently condemned the attack, relaying the necessity for citizens to comprehend the gravity of the situation, “We’re dealing with a regime committed to killing innocents,” he proclaimed, promising a relentless retaliation against aggressors.
The ongoing narrative is complicated by Israel’s own controversial history regarding hospital bombings, as they defend such actions as necessary against Hamas. Zohar alleged that Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian harm, contrasting their actions with Iran's aggression.
Meanwhile, Israel's military has ramped up operations against Iranian sites, indicating a rapidly escalating conflict. The US is also contemplating deeper involvement amid calls for Iran's capitulation and a halt to its nuclear ambitions.
The events in Beersheba unfold against a backdrop of increasing volatility; both nations appear poised to intensify their military postures as tensions mount in a fraught region.
