IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi at Sheba: "I Thank Sheba for its Remarkable and Irreplaceable Work on Behalf of the Nation and its Soldiers!"
As Israel's unilaterally-declared ceasefire came into effect today, Israel's top soldier, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, left his battle command post for the first time in three weeks, and hurried to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer to visit soldiers wounded in the fighting.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief-of-Staff visited today with 25 soldiers and their families who are hospitalized at Sheba, accompanied by hospital CEO Prof. Zeev Rotstein.
"On behalf of the IDF, I want to thank you, the doctors and nurses of the Sheba Medical Center, for your remarkable and irreplaceable work for the nation and its wounded soldiers," said Ashkenazi as he addressed a group of senior medical personnel in the trauma unit. "You have treated all of us with overwhelming compassion and professionalism – wounded civilians, regular army conscripts, and reservists," he said.
Sheba is currently treating 25 wounded IDF combat soldiers, including one soldier in critical condition, two in serious condition (who are still undergoing a series of complicated operations), and others with lifelong injuries including paralysis. Two elite Golani and Paratrooper commando battalion commanders were treated and released today.
Among the wounded at Sheba are Dr. Rotem Kuint, a medical officer whose father, Prof. Yaacov Kuint, heads neonatology at Sheba. Rotem Qunit was injured in battle during the 2006 Lebanon war and again now in the Gaza war; and he conducted heroic battlefield surgery several days ago, saving the life of Second Lieutenant Aharon Karov, who entered battle mere hours after his wedding. A Druze soldier, Val Jenam of the Golani brigade (who was wounded after an IDF tank accidentally fired on infantry troops), took shrapnel in his brain and was stabilized in a complicated 12 hour operation at Sheba; but has not regained consciousness since the injury.
"Sheba at war is a unified, mobilized institution that seeks to wrap our brave fighters returning from the battlefield in a powerful, professional, healing and loving embrace," said hospital CEO Prof. Zeev Rotstein. "All our most advanced medical resources are brought to bear, seeking to repair Israel's heroic warriors and return them healthy to their families. We know that this conflict may not yet be over; so we remain alert and ready for any eventuality."
Rotstein noted that, at the same time, Sheba is caring for wounded from the civilian towns of southern Israel hit by Hamas missiles; for Palestinians injured by Hamas' own missile fire and by IDF operations; for Palestinian children ill with cancer and heart ailments, including many children from Gaza; and for the full complement of sick and elderly who regularly avail themselves of Sheba Medical Center care. This includes Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor from Gaza who works part-time at Sheba, who tragically lost three of his daughters to IDF fire on Friday. "Despite the delicate nature of our mission, especially during wartime, we treat all our patients with compassion and a complete heart," Rotstein said. 'This is what our Jewish and Israeli conscience dictates."