The Safra Children's Hospital at the Sheba Medical Center. Photo: David Shay.

JNS.org – As rocket sirens blared at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer last week, a group of Israeli surgeons continued to operate on a Palestinian baby in the center’s intensive care ward, which is not adequately protected from rocket strikes.

The Palestinian infant was suffering from multiple birth defects and arrived at the hospital attached to a respirator.

“The baby required an emergency tracheostomy when the siren began,” Dr. Marina Rubenstein, a senior physician at the pediatric intensive care unit at Sheba Medical Center, told Israel Hayom.

Doctors “didn’t even move from the bed” despite the fact that all Israelis are instructed to enter a protected space when the sirens sound, said Rubenstein.

“Our responsibility is to young children, regardless of where the child is from or the child’s religion,” the doctor said.