February 3, 2010

IAF Strikes Gaza Targets in Response to Terrorist Activity, 3 Jan 2010

January 3rd, 2010

IAF Strikes Targets in Gaza in Response to Terrorist Activity

Overnight, in a joint IDF-ISA activity, the IAF has attacked two terrorist targets in the southern Gaza Strip used by Hamas. One was a tunnel used for the infiltration of terrorists into Israel, while the other was used for smuggling weapons.

Direct hits were identified.

The strike was executed in response to the recent attempted naval attacks against Israel, and the recent rocket fire towards Israel. Including yesterday’s rocket fire, there have been 19 rocket incidents in the past month.

Approximately 770 Qassam rockets, mortar shells and Grad missiles were fired at Israel during 2009.

The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip that disturb the calm in the southern communities of Israel, and will respond to hostile acts.

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February 1, 2010

Explosive Devices Located on Israeli Public Beaches, 1 Feb 2010

February 1st, 2010
Joint Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency and Israeli Police Announcement

Explosive Devices Located Today on Israeli Public Beaches
Three Days Ago, Palestinian Terrorist Organizations Claim Responsibility for Maritime Explosive Devices

On January 29th, a number of Palestinian terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for a maritime terrorist attack following the detonation of two sea-born explosive devices at a distance of approximately two kilometers off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

This morning, February 1st, 2010, Israeli civilians reported seeing a suspicious unidentified object lying on the Barnea beach, a public beach in the coastal city of Ashkelon. Israeli Police sappers examined the object and determined it to be an explosive device. A similar object was later located at one of the beaches in Ashdod, another Israeli city located farther north on the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Both devices were detonated in a controlled manner by the Israeli police.

The terrorist organizations who took responsibility for the original maritime attack are the Fatah military wing, known as “Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades”, the Popular Resistance Committees military wing, known as “Saladin Brigades” and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad military wing, known as the”Al-Quds Brigades”.

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January 28, 2010

Ceremony Held to Honor the Efforts of IDF Aid delegation to Haiti, 28 January 2010

A ceremony was Held to Honor the Efforts of the IDF Aid Delegation to Haiti

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi spoke at the ceremony held to honor the efforts of the IDF aid delegation to Haiti.

A ceremony was Held to Honor the Efforts of the IDF Aid Delegation to Haiti

Minister of Defense Ehud Barak Addresses the Delegation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses the Delegation

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January 27, 2010

Closing the IDF Aid Delegation in Haiti

The IDF aid delegation dismantles the field hospital built in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Patients needing further care are transferred to other delegations while tents and beds are taken apart. The head of the medical team, Col. Doc. Itzik Kryce then speaks to the entire delegation during the final roll call. He describes the pride he feels seeing the success of the mission and emphasizes the importance of representing Israel and the IDF’s values in Haiti. The roll call ends with the delegation singing the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikva,” the hope.

To date: 1,111 patients were treated, 317 surgeries were preformed, and 16 births took place at the IDF field hospital.

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January 27, 2010

IDF Haiti Delegation to Return to Israel Tomorrow, 27 January 2010

January 27th, 2010

IDF Delegation in Haiti to Arrive in Israel on Thursday Morning

Five Year Old Child from Haiti due for heart surgery in Israel is Also On Board the Plane. Over 30 Tons of Medical Equipment and Supplies left for Local Population

The IDF medical and rescue team sent to Haiti has concluded its operations today, Wednesday, January 27th, 2010. The delegation’s 236 members, including 218 IDF soldiers and officers and 18 civilians, will leave Haiti on board an air-plane chartered from El-Al and will land at the Ben-Gurion International Airport tomorrow at 8:30. The delegation will be welcomed in a military ceremony (opening at 9:00) at the presence of senior Israeli officials and senior IDF Commanders.

On board the air plane is a five year old child from Haiti who is scheduled to go through a heart surgery in order to correct a heart deficiency.

The delegation left 30 tons of medical equipment for use in the ongoing aid effort. This includes bandaging gear, surgery equipment, two incubators and other medical accessories as well as 1150 blankets, 30 large-sized tents, 500 mattresses, 200 sleeping bags and kitchen equipment. The equipment will be distributed to tent-cities in different locations in Haiti, under the coordination of the Israeli ambassador in the country.

Yesterday, the delegation held a ceremony to mark the closing of the field hospital set up in Haiti. Col. Itzik Kryce, commander of the field hospital, conveyed his great appreciation to the medical staff and said: “You were a drop of hope in a sea of desperation and sometimes made the difference between life and death. It is a great privilege, and you’ve done it as human beings, following the spirit of the IDF and in accordance with the values of the IDF Medical Corps.”

Col. Kryce also said: “We came here to lend a hand and provide assistance, but above all, in order to provide hope and to show that even in the worst situations, a human being can be a symbol of hope to others, wherever they may be”.

The delegation left for the disaster struck area 12 days ago, on January 15th, 2010, comprised of rescue teams from the IDF Home Front Command and Medical personnel from the IDF Medical Corps.

The delegation also included a logistical section, security personnel, C4I personnel, search and identification personnel and additional assistance.

During its stay in Haiti, the delegation treated more than 1110 patients, conducted 319 successful surgeries, delivered 16 babies, including three in caesarian sections, and rescued survivors from the collapsed buildings.

The IDF Medical Corps and Home Front Command will hold a series of briefings following the activity in Haiti in order to improve their preparedness for similar future events.

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January 25, 2010

IDF Field Hospital Transferring Patients to Other Hospitals in Haiti, 25 January 2010

Beginning yesterday, 24 January 2010, the IDF Medical Corps hospital in Haiti began transferring dozens of patients (orphans and premature babies) to the Italian hospital in Haiti and to the US Navy Ship, the ‘Comfort’.

Statement by Lt. Col. Danny Moshayev:

“Today we are starting a process of evacuating patients to the USNS  ‘Comfort’. We have fully briefed all commanders of the medical divisions in the hospital. We have picked the patients that can be treated in the American ship. We are operating appropriate tools for the evacuation of the patients. In addition to this mission, we are transferring two premature babies. They are being transferred to the regional Italian hospital, which is capable of effectively treating children, and especially premature babies, and we are sending out a medical team to accompany them, bring them to the hospital and make sure that they are getting the best treatment possible”.

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January 25, 2010

IDF Aid Delegation to Haiti to Return to Israel on Thursday, 25 Januray 2010

January 25th, 2010

IDF Medical and Rescue Team Concludes Mission in Haiti

Delegation to Return to Israel on Thursday

The IDF medical and rescue team in Haiti will finish its operations in the next few days and its members will return  to Israel by Thursday, after completing its mission in the region. The decision came following the arrival of additional aid forces to Haiti, including the United States military and other, civilian aid, who are now providing regular medical services. Furthermore, many of the local hospitals have reached a sufficient level of functionality.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 26th, the team is scheduled to cease receiving new patients and begin preparing towards returning to Israel on a direct flight on Wednesday. The delegation is scheduled to arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport by Thursday afternoon.

A few dozen patients treated at the IDF field hospital were already transferred to the American hospital in Haiti, and others will be transferred to additional medical facilities.

Part of the equipment brought by the delegation will remain in Haiti for use by the various medical personnel, including tents, medications and other medical equipment. Heavy equipment will be brought back to Israel.

The IDF Medical and Rescue team, including personnel and equipment for setting up a field hospital and a small rescue team, left for Haiti 11 days ago, on January 15th 2010, and had a significant role in providing aid to survivors of the earthquake.

During their stay in Haiti, the delegation treated more than 960 patients, conducted 294 successful surgeries, delivered 16 births including three in caesarian sections and saved many from within the ruins.

In the last few days, after most rescue operations were concluded, much of the delegation’s efforts were turned to other forms of civilian assistance, including setting up water tanks assisting daily life, and more.

The IDF Medical Corps and Home Front Command will hold a series of briefings following the activity in Haiti in order to improve its preparedness for similar future events.

The IDF Chief of the General Staff approved the recommendation by his Deputy and by the OC Home Front Command to conclude the mission.

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January 23, 2010

IDF Doctors Transfer Premature Babies to Local Hospital in Haiti, 23 January 2010

Major Doctor Yuval Levi transferring a premature baby born in the IDF field hospital to a local hospital in Haiti

Capt. Nurse Margarita Mamdov transferring a premature baby born in the IDF field hospital to a local hospital in Haiti

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January 23, 2010

Pictures from IDF Aid Mission in Haiti, 23 January 2010

The IDF continues to provide different types of assistance to the local Haitian population. In this picture, Brig.-Gen. Shalom Ben Aryeh, the commander of the delegation, and Maj. Zohar Moshe, one of the commanders of the search and rescue team who pulled a 22 year old man from the rubble of a 3 story building yesterday, stand next to the bed of the rescued man.

The IDF continues to provide different types of assistance to the local Haitian population. In this picture, Brig.-Gen. Shalom Ben Aryeh, the commander of the delegation, and Maj. Zohar Moshe, one of the commanders of the search and rescue team who pulled a 22 year old man from the rubble of a 3 story building yesterday, stand next to the bed of the rescued man.

The IDF continues to provide different types of assistance to the local Hatian population. In this picture an IDF soldier helps locals, left homeless by the earthquake, to build tents and temporary shelters.

The IDF continues to provide different types of assistance to the local Hatian population. In this picture an IDF soldier helps locals, left homeless by the earthquake, to build tents and temporary shelters.

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January 23, 2010

Update on IDF Activities in Haiti, 23 January 2010

January 23rd, 2010

IDF Aid Delegation Continues Providing Assistance and Support to Haiti


The IDF aid delegation in Haiti will continue to provide assistance and support in various ways to the local population. Only Today, three water towers capable of holding up to 12 thousand liters of water each, were built by the delegation’s representatives in order to supply the residents with a water infrastructure. Shelters and tents have also been constructed in order to provide refuge for those who have lost their homes. Civil engineers in The Israeli delegation in Haiti also opened central traffic routes that had been blocked in the aftermath of the earthquake.

These missions were enabled through the computer analysis of aerial photographs of the area of Port- Au-Prince, stricken by the earthquake, providing real time situation analysis.

Thus far, 720 people have been treated at the IDF field hospital, 233 life-saving surgeries were performed, 10 babies were delivered, two of which in Caesarean births. Most of the patients currently being cared for in the field hospital are considered to be in moderate condition.

Today, 15 patients from the Israeli field hospital in Haiti will be transferred to the U.S. Navy hospital ship “Comfort” in order to receive further medical treatment. This transfer was coordinated with the American delegation in Haiti. Additionally, two premature babies delivered in the Israeli field hospital will be transferred to a local hospital later today.

The Haitian government announced on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 that the rescue efforts in the country have officially ended. The IDF rescue teams have began to operate based on specific indications or calls for help.

Also on Friday, a 22-year-old Haitian man was saved by the Israeli Search and Rescue team from the ruins of a three-story building, near the presidential residence in the southern side of the city. The rescue was enabled due to information received by Population Management officers from the Home Front Command directed to the location of the trapped man by local residents. The man was transferred to the IDF field hospital in stable condition in order to receive further medical treatment.

On Sunday, the Home Front Command will conduct a status assessment regarding the IDF’s future activity in Haiti.

The Israeli field hospital was established in order to provide a first response to the citizens of Haiti until the arrival of additional medical forces capable of dealing with the magnitude of the situation.

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