Barzilai Medical Center

Barzilai Medical Center at night

The Barzilai University Medical Center opened on 20 July 1961, and was initially named Ashkelon Hospital. Construction was financed by the Ministry of Health with the assistance of the South African Zionist Federation,[2] the Ashkelon municipality and Mifal HaPayis. The building was designed by the architect David Brutzkus, covering an area of 8,000m².

The first wards to be established were the pediatric and obstetrics departments, with 15 beds set aside for use by the Israel Defense Force. Dr. Michael Lavih, a medical officer in the air-force, was appointed director of the hospital. From 1961 to 1966, the number of beds rose to 150 and the surgery, internal medicine and orthopedic departments opened. A nursing school was inaugurated in 1966.[3]

In 1971, the hospital was renamed for Minister of Health Yisrael Barzilai, who had laid the cornerstone of the building in the early 1960s.[4] and who had died the previous year.

Situated six miles from Gaza, the hospital has been the target of numerous Qassam and Grad rocket attacks, sometimes as many as 140 in one weekend. The hospital plays a vital role in treating wounded soldiers and terror victims.[5]

Palestinian and Israeli families find a shelter at Barzilai hospital during shelling from Grad rockets from the Gaza Strip

Plans to build a new rocket and missile-proof emergency room for the hospital in 2010 were hampered by ultra-orthodox protests sparked by the discovery of human remains in an ancient burial ground unearthed during construction activities.[6] The hospital's new fortified emergency room was dedicated on February 20, 2018.[7]

In 2021, Barzilai Medical Center introduced an innovative treatment for chronic skin wounds that combines plastic surgery and orthopedic rehabilitation. The clinic is open to anyone suffering from chronic ulcers or deep wounds in skin tissue.[8]

Shrine of Husayn's Head

A section of the grounds of the hospital is believed to have been the burial place of the head of Husayn ibn Ali (Arabic: رَأس ٱلحُسَين, romanized: Rās al-Ḥusayn), a grandson of Muhammad.[9] In the 11th century, Badr al-Jamali built a shrine known as the Shrine of Husayn's Head (Arabic: مشْهد ٱلنَبِي ٱلحُسَين, romanized: Mäšhäď al-Nabī al-Ḥusyan, lit. 'Mausoleum of our Lord Husayn')[10] at the direction of the Fatimid Imam-Caliph, Ma'ad al-Mustansir. The shrine became a pilgrimage site for Shi'a Muslims and historically also Palestinian Sunnis.[11]^{: 185–186}[12][13] In July 1950 the multi-story structure was destroyed by Israel Defense Forces under instructions from Moshe Dayan.[11]^{: 205–206}[14] Around 2000, a marble platform was installed at the site by Mohammed Burhanuddin.[12][9][14][15]

• Health care in Israel