The fear of the existence of Hezbollah tunnels on the northern border reached as far as Galilee Hospital in Nahariya. After complaints reached the management of the medical center about digging noises, the IDF decided to carry out a series of ground tests to rule out the fear of the existence of a tunnel penetrating from Lebanon.
About a month ago, about 40 drillings were done for the purpose of testing, but these did not turn up anything.
Therefore, the suspicion of the existence of tunnels in the area of the hospital is ruled out.
To be safe, it was decided to leave the drillings that were carried out.
Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya (archive), photo: Herzi Shapira
It should be noted that Galilee Hospital in Nahariya is the closest hospital geographically to the northern border - only about 10 kilometers. The first reports on the matter were received as early as December.
An official at the hospital: "Soldiers of the Home Front Command sleeping in staff quarters on the hospital grounds reported that they heard digging sounds at night and suspected that it was the digging of a tunnel. At the direction of the army, 42 holes were drilled in the hospital area in an attempt to locate a tunnel. Fortunately, nothing was found. The holes were dug in areas such as parking lots and in the residential areas".
30 percent occupancy
Shortly after the surprise attack in the south, the hospital in Nahariya and the other hospitals in the north were prepared for an attack on this front as well.
A large part of the hospital's activities moved to the protected underground hospital.
This is a complex that existed even before the Second Lebanon War and was the first in Israel in this format.
Also, the protection in other parts of the hospital and the helipad will be increased.
As part of the preparations, the hospital only operates in protected areas and is therefore at about 30 percent occupancy.
The Galilee Medical Center stated: "During the month of October, a suspicion arose that on the outskirts of the Galilee Medical Center there was a fear of digging a tunnel due to noises that were heard and vibration that was felt in the area several times. The medical center, under the guidance of the engineering headquarters of the Northern Command, worked for several weeks to negate the risk, through dedicated drilling for denying a tunnel deep into the ground and scanning the route with advanced technological means. The suspicion is ruled out."
The IDF stated: "After an inspection by civilian officials accompanied by the IDF, there is no known threat under the hospital in Nahariya. Any threat that is found will be destroyed."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us