Supporters of Shaare Zedek UK gathered online on the 28th July for “From the Frontlines,” a compelling update from Professor Jonathan Halevy, President of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Speaking live from Israel, Professor Halevy offered an unflinching look at the hospital’s frontline response during recent conflict – and revealed what lies ahead.

In June 2025, when hostilities escalated between Iran and Israel, Shaare Zedek activated full emergency protocols for the first time in more than a decade. Within hours, 70 ICU patients were relocated to a fortified underground bunker, and an underground car park was transformed into a fully functioning emergency hospital with 97 beds, air conditioning, and sanitation. All within just 24 hours.

Since the start of the war on 7 October 2023, Shaare Zedek has treated over 1,500 war-related casualties, including 2,800 trauma cases and 44 placed on ECMO, an advanced heart-lung life-support system. Its trauma coordination and rooftop helipad allow critically injured soldiers to reach the hospital from Gaza in just 59 minutes.

The hospital continues to lead across the country in areas such as cardiology, stroke, hepatobiliary surgery, trauma, and oncology. It also operates the largest maternity ward in the Western world, delivering over 22,000 babies per year. Today, 70% of emergency ambulance patients in Jerusalem request to be taken to Shaare Zedek.

Professor Halevy highlighted the hospital’s unique model of cooperation and inclusion, with Jewish and Arab clinicians, researchers, and nurses working side by side. One third of the staff are Arab and all are unified in their shared mission.

“Politics stop at the hospital door,” he said. “We are all united in the mission to save lives.”

Even under fire, the hospital’s staff showed extraordinary resilience. Many were working long shifts while their spouses served on reserve duty and their young children were at home. Despite extreme pressure, the hospital never paused its care.

Professor Halevy also shared how the hospital is harnessing artificial intelligence to support diagnostics and treatment, including improving colonoscopy detection and CT scan triage. But he emphasised that AI will never replace human connection in care:

“You cannot computerise a smile or a handshake.”

The evening closed with a bold vision for the future. To meet the growing needs of Jerusalem’s population, Professor Halevy revealed plans for a transformative 20-storey hospital tower. With 50 operating theatres, shielded ICUs, and cutting-edge infrastructure to serve the next generation.

“We cannot fit another pin in our hospital,” he said. “We must grow with the population of Jerusalem. Without a new building, Jerusalemites will wait months or years for surgery.”

Just as the UK community has stood by Shaare Zedek for decades, helping to fund the equipment, rooms, and innovation that make world-class, compassionate care possible. We are excited to share updates with our supporters in the coming months as this next chapter in the life of Shaare Zedek Medical Center begins to take shape.