Jerusalem, 5 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A two-day-old Israeli baby underwent emergency surgery this 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.