Photos have revealed the chaotic scenes inside the only major medical center in southern Israel where hundreds of patients have been rushed for urgent care in the 72 hours after the deadly surprise attack by Hamas.
Images from the Soroka Medical Center approximately 25 miles from Gaza show frontline workers tending to seriously wounded Israeli victims which included a pregnant woman shot in the stomach and police officer shot in both legs.
‘A pregnant woman came in after being shot in her abdomen. She survived but the baby did not — killed in a terror attack before being born,’ Dr. Shlomi Codish, CEO of Soroka told the New York Post.
‘The extent of the injuries to civilians, children, the elderly was unprecedented. In the first 18 hours, we saw 700 people and treated them under fire — literally. Bombs were falling around us and air raid sirens were going off.’
Codish said they treated a police officer who was shot in both legs in the city of Ofaquim who struggled to get to the road where an ambulance met up with him.
A bloody faced patient (pictured) holds up a peace sign while being treated. The Soroka Medical Center, located 25 miles from Gaza, has treated 700 patients from the deadly Hamas attack
Frontline workers tend to a patient (pictured) while providing care to victims of the Hamas attack. Shlomi Codish, CEO of Soroka, said they treated a pregnant woman who was shot in the stomach. The woman survived, the baby did not
The medical team have been treating victims (pictured) non-stop since Saturday’s horrific attack. Codish said they have treated injuries to civilians, children, the elderly in unprecedent numbers
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, visited Soroka Medical Center to support their work. Of more than 700 patients treated there, approximately 130 arrived in a critical condition.
‘People walked for miles with gunshot wounds and distanced themselves from terrorists with assault rifles,’ said Codish.
‘People shot in the settlements where EMS could not reach hiked to the highway and got picked up by passing motorists.’
‘We had a patient come in, wearing her pajamas after being shot in bed. What are they protecting against?’ Codish said.
In one image, an Israeli officer can be seen making the peace sign as he’s wheeled into the medical center with blood all over his face.
Another shows medics frantically transporting a wounded patient on a stretcher to a waiting military helicopter to be moved to a different hospital.
At least 260 people were killed at Supernova music festival near the Gaza Strip in the surprise attack, and many are still missing.
President Joe Biden said at least 11 Americans were killed and as of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead while more than 2,000 are injured.
Soroka’s medical team (pictured) have been serving as ‘Israel’s Iron Dome for Health. The doctor said they treated a police officer who was shot in both legs and struggled to get to safety where an ambulance was able to pick the officer up
Isaac Herzog (pictured), President of Israel, visited Soroka Medical Center on Monday to support their work treating victims of the Hama’s attack
Israeli soldiers and medical personal transfer a victim to a hospital in Jerusalem. The hospital used helicopters to transport the first wave of 700 patients to make room for others
‘In a military event, soldiers wear protective equipment. A gunshot when you are protected causes significant damage, but not significant injuries. For young civilians, shot while enjoying a party, that is not the case,’ said Codish.
According to the medical center website, the staff is working around the clock in the face of personal loss and fear.
Staff is working on 36-hour shifts and administering medical treatments wherever possible, including preforming surgery in the emergency department.
‘The whole time we were cognizant of staff members who had been killed or who were missing,’ the doctor said.
Codish said of the 700 treated, 18 people have died. He said they transported the first group of patients to make room for the next wave.
‘They went out in fleets of helicopters, headed to hospitals further away from Gaza. ‘We need to make room.’
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