Haifa: Israel’s underground hospital prepares for attack

Deep under the northern Israeli city of Haifa, there’s a vast underground hospital.

Hundreds and hundreds of beds are lined up within its concrete walls.

There are operating theatres, a maternity ward, and medical supplies stacked up in corners.

But there are no patients – yet.

 It’s normally a multi-storey car park but it can be converted into a hospital in less than three days.

It’s been on standby since shortly after the Hamas attacks of 7 October and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

The facility has more than 2,000 beds. In the event of a major attack on Israel, it would take in existing patients from the overground medical centre and other nearby hospitals. And there’s room too to treat injured casualties.

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the Islamic Republic is committed to peace and security in the region but reserves the right to respond to the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil.

The president made the remarks as he took a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed concerns about an increase in regional tensions following the killing of the Hamas political leader and urged Iran to exercise restraint.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the avoidance of war and the effort to establish global peace and security as its fundamental principles. However, within the framework of treaties and international laws, it will never remain silent in the face of violations against its interests and security,” he told Macron.