Israeli Hospital Attacked by Iranian Missiles: Eyewitness Accounts Emerge

An Iranian missile strike on Soroka Medical Center led to chaos and destruction, injuring at least 71 individuals. Eyewitnesses recount the horror of the moment, while Israeli officials vow to respond decisively against Iran's aggression.

Black smoke billowed from the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba as rescue teams responded to a missile strike attributed to Iran. The scene was chaotic hours after the attack, with metal shrapnel littering the area and emergency personnel tirelessly working to evacuate patients. Among them was Alon Uzi, who described lying in bed during the incident, only to be covered in dust as part of the ceiling collapsed.

"I was lying in bed, and I heard a big boom," Uzi said, recalling a whistling noise before the explosion. The emergency area was overwhelmed, with the air thick with dust mixed with chemicals, as staff evacuated patients from impacted surgical wards. According to Israel’s ministry of health, the strike resulted in at least 71 injuries.

Professor Asher Bashiri, who oversees the maternity ward, expressed the devastation surrounding the hospital, noting that although they had moved patients to emergency shelters prior to the attack, the aftermath was still shocking. “It could have been so much worse,” he stated, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict.

Hospital director Shlomi Codish reported extensive damage, with sections of the facility completely destroyed. Over 200 patients may need relocation to other medical centers, and officials are trying to navigate the risk of further collapses.

As ministers arrived at the site to show their support, Culture Minister Miki Zohar emphasized the severity of the situation. “All the people need to know what we're facing – a regime that is trying to kill innocent people,” he declared. This sentiment echoes the Israeli government's broader stance on the conflict, with Zohar asserting that they would respond robustly to Iran's aggression.

While there are allegations of Israel’s history of military actions impacting Gaza, Zohar defended Israel’s protocol to safeguard civilians, asserting that they make efforts to minimize civilian harm. Meanwhile, Iran's military strategy, which reportedly targeted a tech park near the hospital, raises concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict.

As the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran persist, the fear of a broader war looms. Recent announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump signal a tense diplomatic situation, with the possibility of the U.S. military siding with Israel against Iranian threats. Both sides are demonstrating their capacity for escalation, creating a precarious balance in this volatile region.