Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley’s trust made the donation to support the construction of an advanced underground emergency hospital within the new Alrov Rehabilitation Tower.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust donated $10 million to build an underground emergency hospital at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s (Ichilov) new Alrov Rehabilitation Tower, the company and hospital announced earlier this week.
Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley’s trust made the donation to support the construction of an advanced underground emergency hospital within the new Alrov Rehabilitation Tower currently under construction at Ichilov.
The project is focused on ensuring access to protected medical spaces during emergencies, including during missile attacks.
The underground emergency hospital will be located on the -5 level of the rehabilitation tower, which is currently under construction.
While the negative fifth floor would have normally been used as a parking lot, the space has been converted into a fully-functioning hospital and will soon contain 250 beds, with plans to add an additional 150.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust donated $10 million to build an underground emergency hospital at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s (Ichilov) new Alrov Rehabilitation Tower (credit: Courtesy)
The new hospital floor will also feature advanced protection systems, including dual air-conditioning units, a water reservoir protected from chemical and biological attacks, and fully shielded oxygen and suction lines.
The trust’s donation covers the construction costs, including excavation, foundations, and fortifications, as well as the installation of electromechanical systems, restrooms, showers, and nursing stations.
Smoke rises from the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage at the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, June 19, 2025. (credit: DUDU GREENSPAN/FLASH90)
The Health Ministry has also pledged a significant investment in the project.
The new facility will strengthen the safety and treatment capacity of both the Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital and the future Alrov Rehabilitation Hospital.
Prof. Eli Sprecher, CEO of Ichilov, said: “The generous donation from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, along with crucial support from the Health Ministry, marks a huge step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, especially in times of crisis. As we learned just this past June, this is a critical infrastructure for the resilience of Israel and its citizens. The new underground hospital will provide a highly secure and fully operational treatment space for patients in extreme emergencies. We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which reflects our shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for Israel.”
Preparing hospitals for a state of emergency
The trust’s donation comes months after an Iranian missile hit the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The institute suffered significant impact on the hospital’s old surgical building after being hit several tiimes, the hospital spokesperson stated after the barrage. No one was injured in the attack.
The surgical floor was evacuated only moments before the missile hit after a senior staff member assessed the location as vulnerable.
The IRGC attempted to justify the attack by claiming the medical center was located near a military command and intelligence center.