Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva is home to one of the busiest maternity wards in Israel as it serves both the Jewish and Bedouin communities. The hospital on an average day brings 35 children into the world but on the last day of Operation Protective Edge, 68 babies were born.

State officials report the number breaks all records for a 24-hour period for any hospital in the history of the state of Israel. The hospital broke the record set last Yom Kippur. The hospital reported during Operation Protective Edge that births were up by about 10%. As a result, mothers able to return home were released after 36 hours instead of the usual 48.

Soroka is the major medical facility and trauma center for the Negev region.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)