Israel's Healthcare System Sets Up Clinics in Hotels for Civilians Displaced by Iranian Missile Strikes

Iranian missile strikes have displaced more than 4,800 civilians in Israel after damaging or rendering homes uninhabitable. As of late April 2026, around 1,000 evacuees are housed in Jerusalem hotels and about 500 at the Dead Sea, according to Clalit Health Services.

Others stay with friends, family, or in private arrangements. Families arrive at hotels with salvaged items, sometimes leaving damaged areas within minutes. Some return briefly to retrieve medications, documents, or other essentials before homes are sealed.

Services began providing care in hotels shortly after displacements started. Dr. Uri Shliom, head of risk management in Clalit’s southern district, stated that doctors used guest rooms or conference spaces as clinics starting on the second day of evacuations.

The system draws from experience with prior emergencies under Israel’s National Health Insurance Law, which requires residents to join one of four health funds. These funds maintain medical records, prescriptions, and services. Evacuees receive calls and messages for prescriptions and consultations.

Doctors treat immediate needs such as replacing medications, hearing aids, or eyeglasses. Chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure can worsen without routine care. Dr. Ishai Lev, a family medicine specialist, noted that patients often seek normality and emotional support alongside medical treatment.

Symptoms like headaches, stomach pain, and fatigue may reflect emotional distress. Clinics also handle social and bureaucratic needs.

Displacement disrupts daily routines, work, and school. Hotels provide temporary housing but lack privacy and stability. Danit Garcia-Dincin, a displaced single mother from Beersheba, described initial relief shifting to difficulties in establishing routines.

For children, the loss of home stability leads to behaviors like bedwetting or separation anxiety. Nofar Bar Lipshatz, a developmental psychologist at Clalit Health Services, stated that support focuses on parents as a secure base for children.

Evacuees remain in hotels without clear timelines for returning home. Healthcare services aim to provide structure through clinics and additional support like temporary kindergartens and mental health resources. The process of restoring normal life continues in these interim spaces.