How Soroka Hospital Managed Two Mass-Casualty Events in Quick Succession

https://unitedwithisrael.org/how-soroka-managed-two-mass-casualty-events-in-quick-succession/

 By Amelie Botbol

Such events are particularly complex, as many patients suffer minor physical injuries or psychological trauma but cannot be discharged promptly because they have nowhere to go.

As nearly 200 wounded Israelis arrived at Soroka Medical Center on Saturday following Iranian missile attacks on the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, Prof. Roy Kessous, deputy director of the hospital, described how staff managed two mass-casualty events in quick succession.

At 7 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m., the hospital received alerts following a missile strike on Dimona. From that incident alone, 60 casualties were brought in, including a severely wounded 12-year-old boy who was transferred directly from initial assessment to surgery and remains in intensive care.

Kessous said the hospital is experienced in handling such situations, having dealt with multiple mass-casualty incidents in recent years.

“Very quickly, we implemented the appropriate protocols and mobilized both on-site medical personnel and staff from home,” he told JNS.

He noted that such events are particularly complex, as many patients suffer minor physical injuries or psychological trauma but cannot be discharged promptly because they have nowhere to go.

“Many of them had their homes destroyed in the missile strike. With the help of administrative teams and municipal services, we gradually discharged patients to safe locations for the night,” he said.

Shortly after the Dimona incident, the hospital was notified of another missile strike, this time on Arad. A total of 115 patients were transferred to Soroka, including 70 children. Nine were listed in serious condition, with at least twice that number moderately wounded. Many of the casualties were members of the same families.

To reduce additional distress, hospital staff compiled lists to group relatives together and ensure they were treated in proximity.

Patients arrived with blast injuries and wounds caused by missile fragments. Others were injured in falls from higher floors or while attempting to reach protected areas.

Kessous said one of the main challenges stemmed from Health Ministry directives requiring treatment to take place in protected spaces, limiting the hospital’s overall capacity.

“We are minimizing ambulatory services and have almost entirely halted elective procedures over the past three weeks,” he said. During mass-casualty incidents, the hospital closely monitors intake to avoid exceeding capacity.

“We are not alone—we have support from the Health Ministry and the Clalit Health Services. We continuously assess the number of incoming patients and determine whether transfers to other hospitals across Israel are necessary,” he said.

Capacity, Kessous added, is not defined by a fixed number, but depends on the volume and severity of incoming cases, as well as available staff—though staffing has not been a limiting factor, given the hospital’s size.

“At one point yesterday, ambulances and even a helicopter were waiting as we assessed whether transfers were needed. Fortunately, we were able to treat everyone here,” he said. “We prioritized keeping families together and avoided separating children from their parents.”

 

 

Tragic Missile Strike in Bet Shemesh

We are now four days into the US-Israeli military campaign to bring down the fanatical Iranian regime. Here in Jerusalem, we have repeatedly hunkered in our bomb shelters as dozens of Iranian missile barrages sailed overhead on their way to Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. Each time, the explosions from rocket interceptions above us got louder and the ground impacts came closer.

In fact, on Sunday we saw the tragic missile strike which leveled a synagogue and public bomb shelter in Beit Shemesh, only 12 miles from Jerusalem. Nine people have died from the blast so far. Entire families were wiped out. One woman lost her husband the day before they were supposed to celebrate their 13-year-old son’s bar mitzvah. Instead, the boy had to bury his father yesterday.              

Within hours of the Beit Shemesh disaster, Iran started deliberately targeting Jerusalem for the first time, using their best guided missiles. One unexploded warhead fell in the Hinnom Valley outside Jaffa Gate, just 500 meters from the Temple Mount. Another rocket blew a large crater in a main highway in Jerusalem. Iran even brazenly announced it had targeted Israeli government offices in “East Jerusalem.”

Like the Iranian attacks on numerous Arab countries, the missile barrages on Jerusalem are signs of a desperate regime in the last throes of their power. With the confirmed death of Ayatollah Ali Khameini and dozens of other senior Iranian leaders on day one, the Islamic Republic knows it is about to meet its end. Masses of Iranian people are longing for that moment, but we do not know yet exactly when it will come.

Since the war began on Saturday morning, many Christians have joined us in praying for a swift and decisive victory over the Iranian regime before the end of Purim on Wednesday. This festive biblical holiday marks a famous triumph of the Jewish people over their enemies within the ancient Persian empire. Thus, a resounding victory this week by the Jewish nation over its implacable enemies in Tehran would be so appropriate.

Still, Israeli authorities have told the public to expect the fighting to continue until at least March 12, while US President Donald Trump just said it could take three to four more weeks to finish the mission. We simply do not know how long this war will last and whether it might spread further throughout the region.

But what we do know is that right now Israel needs our help. This is a pivotal moment for the Jewish people gathered back in their ancestral homeland. A clear victory could radically change the dynamic in the region, expanding the prospects of Israel’s wider acceptance by its Arab neighbors. But they need to know that Christians are at their side, to give them the courage and stamina to endure the Iranian missiles now raining down on Israeli cities.

 

Eyewitness Account

 

From Alana Ruben Free

I am a living witness to the attack on the center of Tel Aviv yesterday morning at 4 AM. I was staying in a safe room with 3 other women, pretty much as close as one could be to the direct hit. It's very important that you understand the following:

This was a neighborhood of young, relatively "secular" Israelis who do not wear any kind of head coverings. They cover themselves more in tattoos than clothes.

From the young soldiers in the search and rescue crews that got us out of the apartment to the store owners on the street below, everyone was literally telling jokes, laughing, and smiling from the minutes to the hours that followed the attack. The vast majority of us knew we had once again experienced another open miracle: we were safe and completely protected from evil by the Guardian of Israel, and that we are his Children. The air was filled with a powerful "Yirat Shamayim"/ "Awe of the Greatness of our Creator in Heaven." There was zero looting of any kind despite none of the stores having windows or doors. How was it that not one person was killed? How was it possible that the rocket landed in the one patch of empty land, an unused parking lot, in the center of all the buildings? (I often wondered what was the purpose of that empty lot? Now, I know.)

The majority of Israelis (of all faiths) know we dwell in truth, goodness, kindness, love, and righteousness. As I was rendered apartmentless, I wandered in and out of other people's apartments and spaces--some that were utterly destroyed and some that were still functional. Despite the damage to property, there was a tremendous sense of joy in the air!

I ended up resting on the sofa of two guys, Liran and Noam, who had just moved in the day before to their now windowless apartment. By the time I arrived around 9:30 AM they had cleaned up all the glass, taped up the open spaces, put up shelves, arranged their plants, and unpacked their dishes. One had just returned a month ago after spending 3 years in Australia. He said, "Here we are home. Here we know what's true.."

When the interviewer from ABC news asked me earlier, "Where will you go now that you don't have an apartment?" I looked at him in an odd-way, I said, "Of course I will have somewhere to go. We are one family. There's always somewhere to go in Israel." And this is true, everyone's home is open to everyone else. We trust each other; we trust God, the One God who neither slumbers nor sleeps.

During the missile explosion, I was very calm and calmed others. We sang, we prayed, we recited psalms. I knew God was protecting us. We walked out without a scratch and found all three of my friend's cats within a few hours.

I had a taste yesterday of what it would be like if we lived in a world where everyone shared "Yirat Shmayaim"/"Awe of Heaven." It was glorious! May this understanding that we are all being watched over, and are accountable to a Loving, Wise Source spread globally.

DO NOT GLOBALIZE the intifada. GLOBALIZE a movement that spreads an AWE OF THE GREATNESS OF THE CREATOR OF LIFE.

 

Israel Unveils first-ever Hypersonic Missile Interceptor

Video Of The Week - Jenin, the Palestinian Terrorist Capital. - https://tinyurl.com/bddmd99c         

For the Full Article from The Times of Israel By EMANUEL FABIAN go to - https://tinyurl.com/bdh2dzhz 

Israel continues to lead in the development of air defense systems, announcing the new ‘SkySonic’ hypersonic missile interceptor system.

Defense tech firm Rafael reveals first-ever hypersonic interceptor

Sky Sonic system, under development for three years, to be shown off at Paris Air Show, after Iran claimed earlier this month it built a hypersonic missile

This handout image released on June 14, 2023, shows a render of the Sky Sonic anti-hypersonic missile. (Rafael)

Israel’s Rafael defense contractor unveiled Wednesday that it has been developing a first-of-its-kind anti-hypersonic missile defense system.

According to the company, the Sky Sonic interceptor missile, which has been in development for around three years, will be shown for the first time at the upcoming Paris Air Show next week.

The announcement comes after Iran earlier this month claimed it had developed a new hypersonic missile. Rafael officials said the company had only recently been given approval by the Defense Ministry to reveal the system.

Rafael said the Sky Sonic missile “represents a major technological leap in hypersonic missile defense.”

“Designed with exceptional maneuverability and high-speed capabilities, it effectively neutralizes hypersonic missiles [which travel at speeds of over five times the speed of sound] with unmatched precision and stealth,” it said.

The company could not provide a timeline as to when the missile will be ready to use but said it would be conducting first test flights in the near future.

This handout image released on June 14, 2023, shows a render of the Sky Sonic anti-hypersonic missile. (Rafael)

Speaking to reporters, former minister Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael, said the company had identified the potential hypersonic missile threat a number of years ago and began a research and development venture.

“We are following the developments and emerging threats in the current security context and are developing the most advanced defense systems,” he said.

Steinitz noted that the company’s David Sling medium-range air defense system — already in use by the Israeli military — can technically deal with hypersonic missiles, but said the new system is designed specifically to counter that threat.

“Project Sky Sonic is an innovative, unique development of its kind for the hypersonic weapon threat,” he said.

Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, could pose serious challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. Iran described its new missile, the Fattah, as being able to reach Mach 15.

Women look at Fattah missile in a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Iran is claiming that it has created a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 15 times the speed of sound. (Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency via AP)

Most air defense systems operate up to an altitude of 20 kilometers, while anti-ballistic systems intercept targets outside of Earth’s atmosphere, generally above 70 kilometers.

The Sky Sonic system aims to intercept hypersonic threats within the 20-70 kilometer altitude range, where the incoming missile would likely maneuver to avoid being knocked down by traditional air defenses.

Rafael officials said the United States has shown interest in Sky Sonic.

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Failed Hamas Rockets killed Gaza civilians

 Video Of The Week - Israel, Starwars, Distortion and Lies - https://tinyurl.com/55ts8dhj

 “Hamas uses the civil platform to shoot at us. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and the Israeli army. But we are doing all we can to distinguish between the two components,” the official told JNS.

 For the full article BY YAAKOV LAPPIN go to: https://tinyurl.com/2jbjaf3v

 Rockets fired by Hamas in the Gaza Strip killed a number of Gazan civilians in the first hours of attacks on Monday, an Israeli security official said on Thursday.

 After Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem at 6 p.m. local time, three hours passed before the Israel Defense Forces responded at 9 p.m., according to the source. Yet during those three hours, he said, 17 Gazan noncombatants were killed by failed rocket launches that crashed into Gaza areas.

 “This is an internal mistake or a technical problem that happened when they fired,” said the official.

 The official said that the Israel Defense Forces is making every possible effort to distinguish between Gazan civilians and enemy combatants, saying, “There are mistakes, but we are doing everything in our power to distinguish them and putting all of our resources into this.”

 Every target must be approved by the highest-ranking officer before it is struck as part of the effort to avoid civilians, the source stressed. The IDF also places warning calls and drops empty munitions on buildings (“roof-knocking”) before striking in many cases.

 “Hamas uses the civil platform to shoot at us,” said the official. “It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and the Israeli army. But we are doing all that we can to distinguish between the two components.”

 Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved the call-up of 9,000 reservists, after the previous approval of 7,000 reservists. The personnel will enter combat units and support headquarters as part of “Operation Guardian of the Walls,” Gantz’s office said in a statement, adding that they will be stationed in the IDF’s Southern, Central and Northern Command in place of other units mobilized to other missions.

 Also on Thursday, the IDF intercepted an armed drone sent by Hamas over southern Israel.

 ‘The neighborhood looks like a rocket-impact area’

 IDF spokesperson Capt. (Res.) Libbi Weiss told JNS that the military had been following the threat of armed drones by Hamas for a lengthy period, adding that the IDF was not surprised by the attack.

 It shot down a total of four unmanned aerial vehicles, of which two were explosive drones, according to Ynet. The report said the Iron Dome air-defense system was used to shoot down one threat, a second by a Python missile fired by an F-16, while “the third and fourth were intercepted through a classified means,” said the report.

 Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck the apartment of Samer Abu-Daka, head of the Hamas unmanned aerial vehicle unit, which was used for military planning and operations.

 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad continued firing rockets at southern and central Israeli cities throughout Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, the IDF clocked more than 1,750 rocket attacks since the beginning of hostilities with some 300 falling short in Gaza. Iron Dome intercepted 90 percent of projectiles heading to built-up areas.

 At 2 a.m. on Thursday, a rocket got through the defense systems and smashed into a residential area in Petach Tikvah, injuring five Israelis and causing damage to a four-story building.

 “I’m standing here at Petach Tikvah, looking at the damaged building,” said Weiss. “It very much serves as an unbelievable example of what is going on here. It is miraculous that they were all able to get into the shelter. The neighborhood looks like a rocket-impact area. These developments are incredibly concerning to us.”

 Earlier on Thursday, International IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the military had struck more than 600 enemy targets in Gaza belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and that airstrikes were continuing.

 Also on Thursday, jets hit a Hamas intelligence headquarters, including the main military observation center used by Hamas. Dozens of Hamas operatives were present at the site during the Israeli airstrike, said the IDF.

 A total of seven Israelis—six civilians and one IDF soldier—have been killed by terrorist projectiles since Sunday.

 ‘We have a set plan of military targets’

 The IDF continued to hit a range of targets, including a missile manufacturing site belonging to Hamas and a Hamas naval force site that doubled up as a missile manufacturing site in central Gaza. Other weapons production sites were hit all over the Strip. Several buildings used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for military purposes were hit as well.

 An additional target, described by Conricus as a defensive tunnel, where operatives hide and move between locations, was hit. “This specific tunnel was dug under a school and in very close to an infirmary,” he said. “We continue to strike the different rocket-firing pits, too.”

 Israel has been able to knock out a significant part of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad firing capability, but “it is by no means totally degraded,” said Conricus. Dozens of enemy combatants have been killed by IDF strikes, he added.

 Wednesday’s IDF strike that killed a number of Hamas’s senior military leadership had somewhat of a cooling effect on Hamas, though it was too soon to know how long this would last, he said.

 IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff on Wednesday, and updated him on the situation, the challenges Israel faces and its preparations. He also shared details of Israel’s military planning.

 “This was a very important conversation,” noted Conricus.

 “Our posture going forward is that the IDF is continuing operations. We have a set plan of military targets belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Our intention is to continue to strike those targets to derail their military capabilities to fire at us,” he said.

 IDF ground maneuver units are in “various stages” of preparations at the Gaza border, he added, though no order has been given by the Israeli government to launch such an offensive.

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