Staff members at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya were attacked over the weekend by a patient's family members who demanded that a doctor examine their relative, according to surveillance camera footage from the incident.
One of the hospital security guards was injured in the confrontation and required medical attention. Police have so far arrested one of the main suspects, an 18-year-old from Acre, and a court extended his remand until Wednesday.
Patient's family attack staff at Galilee Medical Center
Hospital staff said that during the incident, which took place overnight Sunday around 1:30am, one of the visitors approached a nurse in the emergency room and began repeatedly shouting in demand that a doctor tends to their relative. Shortly after, about ten family members burst into the emergency room and started attacking staff.
The security guard who was hurt in the incident said that he received a distress call from the ER during a night shift. When he arrived at the ward, he saw the family members attacking staff, mainly nurses. He tried to deescalate the situation before being getting hit over the head and pushed to the ground.
He said that as he laid on the ground, the suspect and other family members continued to kick him. After he got up, one family member punched him in the face, causing him to bleed from his mouth and nose.
The security guard reports having trouble sleeping since the incident due to the physical and mental harm he sustained in the incident.
Hospital director Dr. Masad Barhoum said that last week's incident was one of the most severe cases of violence against medical staff he has seen and commended security for handling the situation professionally.