Israeli Hospitals Move Critical Operations Underground Amid Iran Conflict

Israeli hospitals have once again activated wartime protocols, shifting critical operations to fortified underground facilities following renewed hostilities with Iran in early 2026. Assuta Ramat HaHayal in Tel Aviv has readied an underground hospital accommodating 200 beds, while Hadassah Mount Scopus operates a 140-bed underground unit established in the Gandel Rehabilitation Building. The underground medical infrastructure, built and expanded over successive conflicts, includes fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, maternity wards, and emergency departments. Hadassah Ein Kerem's underground facilities were first activated during the June 2025 conflict with Iran and have been maintained in a state of readiness since. The hospital network can treat patients from all departments, including specialized pediatric and neonatal care. At the same time, Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem is continuing peacetime expansion projects. A bare floor of the iconic Round Building is being converted into a new intensive care unit that will double the existing ICU's capacity. The Round Building's sixth floor is under construction to house a new internal medicine unit capable of treating up to 140 inpatients at any given time. Medical professionals have emphasized that the dual-track approach — maintaining wartime readiness while continuing civilian expansion — reflects the new reality facing Israel's healthcare system. The Health Ministry has directed all major hospitals to maintain underground capacity sufficient to absorb their full patient loads for extended periods, a requirement that has driven billions of shekels in infrastructure investment over the past three years.