A new peer-reviewed paper examines how Assuta Ashdod Hospital in Israel maintained operations during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
Key facts
- •The study was published by Cambridge University Press and based on interviews with 19 emergency department staff members.
- •Assuta Ashdod Hospital treated 87 casualties on October 7, 2023, while under ongoing rocket attacks.
- •The research highlights that previous mass casualty events in the U.S. and Europe did not directly threaten the hospitals involved.
- •The Gaza Ministry of Health reports 236,505 total casualties in Gaza over the two years following the October 7 attacks.
- •Researchers recommend prioritizing staff safety and conducting frequent, realistic drills to maintain hospital performance under wartime stress.
Researchers have published a peer-reviewed paper in Cambridge University Press detailing how the 300-bed Assuta Ashdod Hospital in Israel managed mass casualty incidents during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The study identifies hospital mass casualty incident (MCI) plans as a cornerstone of wartime health system preparedness, offering insights for hospitals globally to maintain functionality during large-scale emergencies.
By the numbers
Operational Preparedness and Response
The study found that Assuta Ashdod Hospital’s ability to function during the attack was supported by a culture of emergency preparedness, including MCI drills conducted every three months and infrastructure reinforced with concrete. On October 7, the hospital activated its MCI plan and treated 87 patients for gunshot wounds, blast injuries, and burns while under rocket fire.
Lessons for Future Conflicts
Lead author Maximilian Nerlander stated that the paper aims to convert the tragedy of the attack into knowledge to save future lives. The researchers noted that while hospitals in the U.S. and Europe have managed mass casualty incidents previously, those events did not directly threaten the hospitals themselves, unlike the situation in Israel. The study suggests that wartime MCI plans must prioritize staff safety, mitigate burnout, and incorporate frequent, realistic drills.
Contextual Data on Gaza
The paper notes that the October 7 attack involved a massive rocket barrage and a ground assault by approximately 3,000 militants. Separately, data from the Gaza Ministry of Health indicates that in the two years following the October 7 attacks, 67,075 people have been killed and 169,430 injured in Gaza, totaling 236,505 casualties amid the destruction of healthcare and other infrastructure.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
