Israel Provides Lifesaving Care to Ukrainian Child Cancer Patients After Russian Attack on Hospital

Israel has extended a lifesaving offer to treat child cancer patients displaced by Russia’s devastating missile strike on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital in Kyiv. This generous act follows the deadly barrage that claimed the lives of at least 42 people across multiple Ukrainian cities on Monday.

The Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, which houses a childhood cancer ward, was hit during the Russian attack. Heart-wrenching images on social media depicted parents comforting their injured children and rescuers frantically searching for survivors amidst the rubble.

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko expressed the dire situation, saying, "We are extracting whoever we can. We don’t know the number of people trapped there."

In response to the tragedy, Israel offered to relocate and treat the displaced cancer patients at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan. This offer was conveyed by Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, who highlighted the strong ties between the Israeli embassy and the Okhmatdyt Hospital. “At the beginning of the war, the embassy delivered medical equipment to the hospital, their doctors visited Israel, our doctors came and advised online,” Brodsky explained.

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, renowned for its excellence in cancer treatment, treats approximately 50,000 cancer patients annually and stands ready to assist the Ukrainian children in need. Brodsky emphasized Israel’s humanitarian efforts, noting that several Ukrainian children with cancer had previously been evacuated to Israel for treatment at the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

World leaders have condemned the recent Russian attack. US President Joe Biden called the missile strikes a "horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality," while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg labeled the attacks on civilian targets as "horrendous."

Israel has a history of aiding nations in times of crisis. In 2020, Israeli teams were dispatched to Honduras and Turkey following devastating earthquakes. Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel has provided significant aid to Ukraine, including establishing an Israeli field hospital in western Ukraine and shipping food, medicine, and generators to affected regions.

As NATO leaders convened in Washington, DC, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged for decisive action against Russian aggression, Israel’s compassionate offer shines as a beacon of hope and solidarity in these tumultuous times.

Israel remains committed to providing aid and upholding its reputation as a nation with a big heart. Join us in sharing this story and subscribing to our newsletter to stay updated on Israel’s ongoing efforts to support those in need.