V24 presents an in-depth series covering the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This comprehensive series features on-the-ground interviews, bringing firsthand insights from a diverse range of voices, including politicians, professors, journalists, experts and influencers. Our guest today: Steve Walz.
Healing Beyond the Frontlines
Amid the chaos of war, Sheba Medical Center stands as a rare haven where medicine rises above bitter divisions. Ranked among the world’s leading medical centers, Sheba treats a broad spectrum of victims - from Israeli soldiers wounded in battle, terror attack survivors, and freed hostages, to, until recently, Palestinians from Gaza seeking lifesaving care. With approximately 25% of its staff comprising Israeli Arabs, Sheba embodies coexistence amid conflict, demonstrating a shared commitment to healing beyond political and ethnic divides
In this exclusive V24 report, Steve Walz takes us behind Sheba’s walls, revealing a hospital where compassion and clinical excellence persist even as missiles streak overhead. The ethos is clear and unwavering: every life matters.
As the largest hospital in the Middle East and a global leader in medical research and innovation, Sheba’s teams have rapidly adapted to the intense pressures of wartime medicine. They employ advanced AI-driven diagnostics, including cutting-edge imaging technology and trauma care protocols, to save lives and improve patient outcomes. These innovations are not just reactive but proactive, pushing the boundaries of what modern medicine can achieve even in the most challenging condition.
From Trauma to Recovery
Sheba is more than a trauma center. It is a sanctuary for the physically and psychologically wounded. Freed hostages brought to Sheba suffer from complex, often invisible wounds - both physical injuries from brutal captivity and deep psychological scars from prolonged trauma.
Sheba’s multidisciplinary teams of surgeons, psychiatrists, and rehabilitation specialists work together to treat the whole person, offering hope where there was once despair. Their groundbreaking work on post-captivity trauma and long-term recovery is setting new standards in medicine, providing vital insights that ripple far beyond Israel’s borders.
Through its innovation hub, ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate), Sheba is developing transformative medical technologies - from prosthetics and surgical advances to novel mental health therapies - helping patients reclaim their lives and independence. These breakthroughs extend Sheba’s impact globally, influencing trauma care and rehabilitation worldwide.
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Healthcare Without Borders
Since 1967, Sheba Medical Center has opened its doors to Palestinian patients from Gaza and the West Bank, offering critical care to many children battling rare cancers and debilitating autoimmune diseases—conditions often exacerbated by the harsh realities of life under siege.
Until the tragic escalation on October 7, Palestinian patients regularly received lifesaving treatment at Sheba, a rare bridge of care amid deepening conflict. The cruel irony is that some Israeli civilians who devoted themselves to facilitating this vital medical support, organizing transport and coordinating treatment, became victims of Hamas attacks or were taken hostage.
Following the October 7 escalation, Sheba temporarily halted new admissions from Gaza, though patients already under care continue to receive treatment, often returning via the West Bank. It is important to note that Sheba does not treat terrorists; such cases are managed by dedicated military hospitals staffed by personnel from across Israel.
Despite the turmoil, Sheba remains steadfast in its mission to provide care to all existing patients, regardless of nationality or politics. In a region fractured by hatred and division, the hospital’s unwavering commitment to the principle of “first, do no harm” stands as a powerful testament to the healing potential of medicine transcending borders, politics, and conflict.
The Future of Regional Healthcare Cooperation
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Sheba Medical Center envisions a future where healthcare acts as a bridge for peace in a fractured and often divided region.
The Abraham Accords opened promising new pathways for medical cooperation between Israel and Gulf states such as the UAE and Bahrain. Although the current conflict has temporarily stalled many joint initiatives, Sheba’s leadership remains hopeful that healthcare diplomacy can play a vital role in restoring trust and fostering long-term stability.
Sheba’s commitment to regional medical advancement is clear in its training of doctors from Gaza’s hospitals - including Alifa Hospital - and the Palestinian Authority, raising medical standards across the region. This training also extends to countries involved in the Abraham Accords, like Bahrain, enhancing surgical skills and clinical expertise.
Through collaborative research projects, clinical trials, telemedicine programs, and comprehensive medical training, Sheba continues to build networks that rise above political fault lines. Its long-established training programs for Palestinian and Arab doctors exemplify how shared medical expertise can lay a foundation for future peace and prosperity.
As Steve Walz poignantly reminds us, “Healthcare transcends politics.”
Beacon of Hope
In a region riddled with complex moral and strategic challenges, Sheba Medical Center shines as a beacon of hope and compassion. Whether it’s harnessing AI for battlefield medicine or creating remote mental health programs for traumatized hostages, Sheba’s mission transcends Israel’s borders.
Amid shifting alliances and deepening divisions, the hospital’s unwavering dedication to saving lives serves as a powerful reminder that healthcare is a universal human right - no matter one’s race, religion, or nationality.
Through it all, Sheba’s doctors, nurses, and researchers persevere with resilience and compassion, committed to breaking down barriers through their skill and care even as rockets fly overhead.
Adam Starzynski
Journalist | Foreign Policy Analyst
