Haifa Deputy Mayor Denounces Claims of Abuse at Rambam Hospital as Racism and Incitement

Fakher Bayadsa, the Deputy Mayor of Haifa, responded to allegations from families of wounded Israeli soldiers about neglect and mistreatment by Arab staff at Rambam Hospital. Instead of addressing the claims, Bayadsa condemned them as "racism and incitement," defending the hospital staff and urging the preservation of trust and coexistence between Jewish and Arab medical workers and patients. He emphasized that Arabic language use is not a threat and warned against allowing short-term political interests to harm the healthcare system.

The controversy arose after Yehoshua Shani, father of the late Captain Uri Shani and uncle of a soldier hospitalized at Rambam, accused the intensive care unit staff, who were Arabic speakers, of preventing family visits and neglecting the wounded soldier’s needs, including being distracted by TikTok while the patient called for water. These serious allegations prompted Defense Minister Israel Katz to order an urgent investigation into the conduct of Rambam Hospital employees toward injured IDF soldiers and their families.

Katz instructed that if the claims are substantiated, appropriate measures must be taken against those responsible, and lessons learned to prevent recurrence. The incident has sparked public outrage and political debate in Haifa and beyond, with the local Hadash party and the municipality involved in the discourse. The hospital and authorities are now under pressure to clarify the situation and ensure proper treatment of wounded soldiers.

Summary: Haifa’s Deputy Mayor Fakher Bayadsa condemned allegations of mistreatment by Arab staff at Rambam Hospital as racist incitement, while Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered an urgent probe into the claims of neglect toward wounded IDF soldiers, following family testimonies of abuse and neglect in the hospital’s intensive care unit.