Government approves NIS 360 million to rebuild Soroka hospital after Iranian missile strike
The decision, passed unanimously, will fund the construction of a new fortified inpatient tower called the Rebirth Building at the only tertiary hospital in southern Israel.
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Be’er Sheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich, businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams and Soroka Director Prof. Shlomi Codish
(Photo: Prime Minister’s Office)
Clalit CEO Dr. Eitan Wertheim: “From the moment the missile struck, Clalit and Soroka worked tirelessly to restore the hospital’s operations. We welcome the government’s decision to repair the severe damage and strengthen the hospital for the years ahead, in light of the many challenges it faces in both routine times and emergencies.”
At the same time, businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams announced a $100 million donation to Soroka, nearly matching the government’s allocation. The donation will go toward rebuilding and transforming the Be’er Sheva hospital into one of the most advanced medical centers in the Middle East.
“The Soroka Medical Center is a cornerstone of resilience and growth in the Negev and the South,” Adams said. “From the very place that was directly and deliberately targeted by missiles, we will build a beacon of medicine, progress and hope. Our answer to hatred and destruction is simple: we choose life. That is the secret strength of the Jewish people.”
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Aftermath of Iran missile strike on Soroka Medical Center
(Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters)
“I am making this contribution as a proud Jew and as an Israeli who loves his country with all his heart and soul,” Adams said. “Soroka’s sacred mission is to save lives and care for people. I thank its heroic staff who continued to work professionally and compassionately under missile fire. You represent the best of Israel.”
Since the Iranian strike, Soroka has faced severe shortages. More than 300 hospital beds remain unavailable, eight operating rooms were destroyed and the hospital’s research labs, shared with Ben-Gurion University, were completely demolished.
For months, hospital officials accused the government of dragging its feet on the reconstruction plan. According to the Health Ministry, the decision follows agreements between Health Minister Haim Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Of the approved sum, NIS 160 million will come from the Health Ministry’s development budget and NIS 200 million from a general reallocation of government spending.
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Eight operating rooms were destroyed at Soroka Hospital
(Photo: Meir Even Haim)
The new tower will provide protected space for at least 70 percent of Soroka’s inpatient beds, as well as for critical facilities including operating rooms, intensive care units and imaging departments, in line with national emergency preparedness standards.
Clalit Health Services, which owns Soroka, will also contribute funding equal to the state’s share, with additional funds coming from private donations. Compensation from the Property Tax Fund for the missile damage will be provided separately.
Conditions at Soroka remain dire. “I have to apologize to women at their most difficult moments and explain why they see men with catheters in the hallway,” said Prof. Asher Bashiri, head of the hospital’s Maternity Ward C, during a recent Knesset hearing.
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Destroyed physiotherapy room at Soroka
(Photo: Meir Even Haim)
“It’s not normal. We never imagined we’d face such a situation.” Dr. Yarden Zohar, a urology resident, described “impossible conditions” after her department was relocated to the maternity wing. “The rooms are cramped, without windows or ventilation,” she said. “This costs lives and affects the quality of care.”
Soroka Deputy Director Dr. Tzachi Slotzky said the Property Tax Fund has so far transferred NIS 65 million, far short of actual damages. “If we rely on them, we’ll never get back to where we were,” he warned.
Soroka serves more than one million residents of southern Israel, including Bedouin communities and border towns, and played a key role in treating thousands of wounded during the war.
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Netanyahu and Adams announce donation to Soroka
(Photo: Prime Minister’s Office)
In June, the hospital sustained a direct hit from an Iranian missile during Operation Rising Lion, severely damaging its northern surgical building and other facilities. Health Ministry officials said the incident underscored the urgent need to strengthen protective infrastructure across Israel’s healthcare system.
“The Soroka Medical Center is Israel’s front line of healthcare in the South,” Finance Minister Smotrich said. “This investment is not just about repairing damage. It is a statement of our commitment to the Negev and to reducing the gap between the center and the periphery.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Adams’s donation, calling it “a tremendous response to the attack we suffered and a great gift to the Negev and the people of Israel.”
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Widespread destruction at Soroka
(Photo: Meir Even Haim)
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Hundreds of hospital beds lost since the strike
(Photo: Meir Even Haim)
Health Minister Katz said the decision ensures the state meets its obligation to southern residents. “It will strengthen public healthcare infrastructure and provide proper protection for Soroka, the medical anchor of the South,” he said.
Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov said Soroka “is not only a hospital but a symbol of the strength of Israel’s public health system and the spirit of the Negev’s residents. After months of hardship and a direct strike, we are now restoring its strength.”
Be’er Sheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich called the new inpatient tower “a crucial national investment in both security and health.” Soroka Director Prof. Shlomi Codish said the hospital “will emerge stronger, combining cutting-edge infrastructure, research and innovation to deliver world-class medicine and ensure the Negev’s physical and moral renewal.”
