Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the IDF to conduct an urgent and comprehensive investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by personnel at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa toward wounded soldiers hospitalized from combat operations in Lebanon.
Katz directed the military to examine the severity of the allegations, review how wounded combatants were treated, investigate the treatment of soldiers' families, and identify responsible personnel should misconduct be confirmed. The Defense Minister ordered the IDF to report its findings directly to him and to ensure corrective measures and lessons are drawn to prevent recurrence.
"I view with utmost gravity the testimony that has been made public regarding conduct toward wounded IDF soldiers at the hospital," Katz said in a statement. "The heroic IDF fighters who were wounded defending the State of Israel deserve the most dedicated and best care, and respectful treatment for them and their families."
Katz added: "I have directed the IDF to conduct an immediate and thorough examination of all claims that have arisen regarding the hospital and relevant agencies. Should it become clear that any staff members behaved toward wounded fighters in an improper or serious manner, this will not be allowed to pass. We will not permit any entity to treat IDF soldiers wounded in defense of the state this way. We will demand answers, draw conclusions, and act to ensure such a case does not happen again."
Rambam Health Care Campus is the primary trauma center for Israeli forces wounded in Lebanon operations. Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion in April 2026, the hospital has received dozens of soldiers injured in combat, including several in critical condition. The facility's trauma and intensive care units have been operating at high capacity, treating both military personnel and civilians wounded in Iranian and Hezbollah rocket and missile fire.
Previous reporting on Rambam's care of wounded soldiers has been positive. In April 2026, families of hospitalized soldiers praised the professionalism of nursing staff and physicians, with one soldier's father telling media that hospital personnel attached a phone to his son immediately after arrival so he could contact his family from the helicopter landing pad.
The investigation ordered by Katz will examine the specific allegations regarding the treatment of wounded combatants and their families. The Defense Ministry did not specify the nature or scope of the alleged misconduct, or which soldiers or family members have filed complaints.
The probe represents a significant response from Israel's military leadership to concerns about the treatment of combat casualties, a politically sensitive issue in Israeli society. Katz's statement emphasizes the state's obligation to wounded soldiers and their families—rhetoric that reflects broader societal expectations regarding veteran and casualty care.
