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Israel packs up Ukraine field hospital

Some 6,000 patients were treated in the Kochav Meir hospital since it opened its doors on March 21; Israeli humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to continue.

The Israeli field hospital in Mostyska, Ukraine. Photo by Naama Frank Azriel.
The Israeli field hospital in Mostyska, Ukraine. Photo by Naama Frank Azriel.

After six weeks of operation and 6,000 patients treated, Israel has shut down its field hospital in Western Ukraine and returned its medical team to Israel, Israel News Network reported on Friday.

The Kochav Meir (Shining Star) hospital was set up jointly by the Israeli health and foreign ministries, in collaboration with Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center, the Rambam Healthcare Campus and HMO Clalit Health Services.

Situated in the city of Mostyska, the 66-bed hospital was open 24/7 after opening its doors on March 21 and was staffed by more than 60 personnel.

The hospital included an internal-medicine ward for adults and children, an emergency room, delivery room and primary-care clinic, according to the ministry. It also employed advanced telemedicine technologies spearheaded by Sheba.

In the Israeli Health Ministry’s March 6 announcement of the mission to Ukraine, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz called it “the least we can do to help the Ukrainian people in the face of a brutal Russian invasion.”

Despite shutting down the medical center, Israel will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, the report said.

Judy Schwank told JNS that “if we can get it through both bodies and get it to the governor’s desk, he will sign it.”
Addressing parliamentary counterparts at confab in Rome, Amir Ohana challenged world leaders to defend their stated values.
The reversal “sends an unfortunate signal at a time of rising antisemitism and sustained efforts to isolate Israel economically,” Evan R. Bernstein, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, told JNS.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement condemned the disruption, calling claims that Israel commits genocide and kills children a modern blood libel.