The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that hospitals in northern Israel are preparing for war against Hezbollah, including scenarios involving power outages and road blockages. Ynet, an Israeli news site, also indicated that the northern hospitals are finalizing their preparations for a potential conflict with Hezbollah.
The site noted that hospitals have not received any new specific directives in recent days; however, last week, there was a meeting between senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the hospitals, during which the preparations were documented on video. It was mentioned that hospitals have been asked to increase their stock of blood products to last for six days instead of four.
Two scenarios are central to the preparations: "Elta" and "the abandoned island." The first scenario focuses on prolonged power outages that could disrupt hospital operations. The "abandoned island" scenario refers to the inability for injured individuals and staff to access the hospital, hindering the supply of medical equipment and food.
In the event of war, it is expected that the largest hospital, Rambam, will receive a significant portion of the casualties. The hospital has 900 beds in an underground complex and is preparing to increase capacity by 800 beds. Rambam is also preparing for a large-scale evacuation of patients from nearby hospitals, including Carmel Hospital, Bnai Zion Hospital, and Pelieman Hospital.
Furthermore, the site reported that the construction of an underground hospital affiliated with Afula Hospital is nearing completion, which is intended to relocate sections of the hospital in case of missile or drone attacks.
