Newborn undergoes emergency surgery amid air-raid alarms

The newborn is recovering under close observation in the protected neonatal unit.

By TPS

A two-day-old Israeli baby underwent emergency surgery Thursday morning at Netanya’s Laniado Hospital while air-raid alarms sounded across the area.

Doctors performed the complex procedure in the hospital’s protected neonatal unit, ensuring the operation continued uninterrupted despite the wartime conditions.

The baby was born with esophageal atresia, a rare congenital defect in which the esophagus does not properly connect the throat to the stomach.

The condition can make feeding and breathing difficult and often requires urgent surgery.

The operation was carried out in collaboration with a senior surgical team from Schneider Children’s Hospital led by Dr. Anastasia Almog, alongside Laniado’s own senior staff, including neonatal ICU director Dr. Arie Simonds, anesthesia director Dr. Yulia Frod, pediatric pulmonary director Dr. Mordechai Pollak, and nursing head Ms. Eti Littig.

“Our protected maternity and neonatal units allow us to continue life-saving procedures even in wartime. Thanks to this collaboration, we can keep saving lives,” said Laniado CEO Nadav Chen.

The newborn is recovering under close observation in the protected neonatal unit.

Earlier this week, a baby was also delivered via Caesarean section during an Iranian missile attack, highlighting the resilience of Israeli hospitals and their ability to continue performing critical medical procedures even under the pressure of ongoing rocket fire and wartime conditions.

Israeli hospitals prepared weeks in advance for these offensive operations, fortifying underground areas to be used as emergency spaces to treat potential casualties.