Soroka Medical Center Receives Defense Minister’s Shield for Supporting Troops

In a moving tribute to dedication on and off the battlefield, Defense Minister Israel Katz awarded the 2026 Defense Minister’s Shield to Soroka Medical Center, recognizing its extraordinary support for IDF reservists during the Israel-Hamas War.

The Defense Minister’s Shield is one of the country’s most prestigious annual honors, presented to institutions that demonstrate exceptional commitment to reservists and their families. This year’s award highlights Soroka’s dual role as both a frontline medical center and a workplace that stood firmly behind its employees serving in reserve duty.

“It is a great pride to stand alongside the hundreds of workers who work with extraordinary dedication, on the military front and the medical front,” said Prof. Dan Schwarzfox, Deputy Director of Soroka University Medical Center and Director of the Emergency Department. “They prove every day what a true mission is and what a deep commitment to human life and Israeli society is.”

The ceremony was attended by hospital leadership and staff, as well as senior IDF Reserve Command officials, including Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa and Chief Reserve Officer Maj. Gen. Benny Ben Ari.

Katz praised Soroka’s response since the October 7 massacre, when the hospital became one of the primary treatment centers for wounded soldiers and civilians.

“From the first hour after the start of the murderous attack by the Hamas terrorist organization, Soroka Hospital became a frontline of Israeli medicine,” Katz said. “You saved hundreds of lives through dedicated medical care without reservation or borders.”

Throughout the war, Soroka’s staff members balanced two demanding missions. Many doctors, nurses, and medical professionals put on reserve uniforms to serve in combat or support roles only to return immediately to hospital shifts upon their release.

“Throughout the war, we saw extraordinary mobilization in Soroka,” Prof. Schwarzfox explained. “The men and women of our team fought for the country in reserve uniforms, and as soon as they were released, they immediately returned to another front the medical front to continue providing life-saving service and care.”

He shared a recent example: a wounded officer from Gaza was brought to Soroka, treated on the ground by a senior doctor from the hospital’s general intensive care department who was himself serving in reserve duty at the time.

Soroka Medical Center’s story reflects a broader truth about Israeli society. Reserve service is not a separate track from civilian life it is woven into it. Doctors, engineers, teachers, and business owners step forward when called, then return home to continue building and healing the nation.

By awarding the Defense Minister’s Shield to Soroka, Israel honors not only a hospital but the spirit of shared responsibility that defines the country in times of crisis.

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