MK Gilad Kariv Defends Rambam Hospital Amid Racism Allegations Over IDF Wounded Care

MK Gilad Kariv of the Democratic Party visited Rambam Hospital in Haifa on Thursday to support the medical staff amid accusations of racist treatment toward wounded IDF soldiers. Kariv condemned what he called a "racist attack" on the hospital following complaints by families of injured soldiers about the conduct of the medical team. During his visit to the soldiers' ward, Kariv praised the Israeli healthcare system as a model of coexistence and professional ethics and vowed to strengthen public healthcare in the next government.

Earlier this week, family members of the wounded soldiers alleged that during a shift change, only Arab medical staff remained in the ward, and families were locked out while four severely injured soldiers were inside. One family member claimed a soldier was roughly handled by staff and denied water for some time. These serious allegations prompted Defense Minister Israel Katz to order a thorough investigation by the IDF in coordination with relevant bodies.

In response, Dr. Nitzan Shmueli, a Rambam physician, publicly defended the hospital's Arab and Jewish staff, describing the intense and compassionate care provided to the soldiers. She criticized the social media misinformation as offensive and emphasized that the staff worked tirelessly to save lives amid complex and critical conditions. She also stressed that such situations do not justify racism or incitement.

The IDF spokesperson confirmed that upon receiving the complaints, representatives acted promptly with the hospital to clarify and address the issues. The IDF reiterated its commitment to providing full support to wounded soldiers and their families, while the hospital retains medical responsibility for their care. The military continues to cooperate with hospitals to ensure optimal treatment for all service members.