Professor Ofer Amir, Director of the Heart Disease Institute at Hadassah, led the pioneering surgery and characterized the procedure as “an unprecedented milestone in Israeli medicine” that opens new horizons in treating severe heart failure. The successful completion of this surgery places Israel among the select few countries worldwide capable of implementing such advanced medical technologies.

The surgical team underwent extensive preparation that included specialized training in France, where Hadassah medical personnel worked alongside local cardiac surgeons and representatives from the French company that manufactured the artificial heart device. The intricate operation required precise coordination between two operating rooms functioning simultaneously to ensure optimal outcomes.

In the first operating room, medical personnel began the delicate process of preparing the artificial heart for transplantation, which included the precise addition of artificial valves to the device. Concurrently, in the second operating room, surgeons initiated the complex procedure by removing the patient’s diseased natural heart and connecting him to a heart-lung machine that maintained his vital functions throughout the operation.

The artificial heart represents a remarkable fusion of advanced technology and biological engineering. Constructed from titanium and incorporating biological tissues of animal origin, the device features sophisticated sensor systems that enable complete and precise functioning of the circulatory system. The artificial heart can fully replace natural cardiac function, providing patients with a comprehensive solution for severe heart failure.

The financial investment for each artificial heart device amounts to 1.6 million shekels, approximately $455,000, with Clalit Health Services providing complete coverage for this substantial expense. This coverage ensures that patients requiring this life-saving technology can access treatment without financial barriers.

Following the preparation of the implantation site, the artificial heart was carefully transported to the operating room where the patient awaited the procedure. The medical team proceeded to implant the device and meticulously connect it to the patient’s primary blood vessels. Through a gradual process, medical personnel reduced reliance on the heart-lung machine while simultaneously increasing support from the newly implanted artificial heart. Eventually, the patient was completely disconnected from external life support systems, and the artificial heart began operating independently without dependence on external equipment.

The surgical procedure demanded flawless coordination among an extensive medical team comprising cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesia specialists, intensive care experts, operating room nurses, and heart-lung machine technicians. The operation involved the complete removal of the patient’s natural heart and its replacement with the specialized artificial device, requiring exceptional surgical precision and extensive medical expertise.

This Israeli medical breakthrough occurs at a time when only 114 such procedures have been performed globally to date. The achievement solidifies Israel’s position as a leading medical power and demonstrates the exceptional professional capabilities of Israeli physicians alongside the country’s technological advancement. The Israeli healthcare system continues to advance confidently at the forefront of global medical achievements, with such accomplishments enhancing its international reputation in advanced medicine.

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, recognized as a premier university medical center, issued an official statement following the surgery declaring, “We made history. For the first time in Israel—an artificial heart transplant that completely replaced the patient’s heart was successfully performed this week at Hadassah. The life of a 63-year-old patient was saved thanks to the complex operation.”

The successful artificial heart transplantation extends beyond saving a single human life, opening treatment possibilities for additional patients suffering from severe heart failure who are not candidates for conventional heart transplantation. This advanced technology provides medical solutions for complex cases where traditional treatments prove insufficient or inappropriate for specific patient conditions.

This achievement represents another significant advancement in Israel’s transplantation field development and strengthens the national healthcare system’s capabilities. The medical accomplishment showcases the professional excellence of Israeli medical teams and their capacity to address complex and pioneering medical challenges. The successful surgery offers hope to numerous additional patients while establishing Israel’s prominence on the global advanced medicine landscape.

The combination of innovative technology and Israeli medical expertise creates unique opportunities for providing advanced medical solutions to patients in critical conditions. Israel’s first artificial heart transplant symbolizes both a personal medical victory for the patient and a significant advancement for the entire Israeli healthcare system.

The successful procedure inaugurates a new era in treating advanced heart diseases within Israel and provides renewed hope to patients and their families facing similar medical challenges. This medical achievement reinforces Israel’s status as a leading nation in medical innovation and life-saving technology development, while demonstrating the superior quality of Israeli medicine and unwavering commitment to preserving human life.

The historic surgery establishes a foundation for future developments in cardiac care and positions Israel’s medical community at the forefront of international efforts to address complex cardiovascular conditions through cutting-edge technological solutions.

Photo: Hadassah University Medical Center – in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright Law

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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation and announced that the Air Force had destroyed the last remaining aircraft in Houthi possession. “Air Force aircraft have now struck terrorist targets of the Houthi terrorist organization at Sanaa airport and destroyed the last remaining aircraft in Houthi use as part of Operation Golden Jewelry”, Katz stated in an official announcement. He characterized the action as “a clear message and direct continuation of the policy we have established: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay heavy prices”.

The Defense Minister outlined an expansion of Israeli military operations against Houthi-controlled infrastructure. “Yemen’s ports will continue to be severely damaged, and Sanaa airport will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the region serving the Houthi terrorist organization and its supporters”, Katz declared. He further announced that “the Houthi terrorist organization will be under maritime and air blockade – as we committed and warned. Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the strike directly, emphasizing Israel’s retaliatory approach. “The Air Force has now struck again at Sanaa airport, controlled by the Houthi terrorist regime in Yemen. We operate according to a simple principle: whoever harms us – we will harm them. Whoever doesn’t understand this with force – will understand it with even more force”, Netanyahu stated. The Prime Minister directed responsibility toward Iran, saying, “As I have said many times – the Houthis are just the symptom. The main force behind them is Iran, and it is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen”.

The Israel Defense Forces issued a detailed statement explaining the rationale behind the strike. “The IDF struck a short time ago at the central airport in Sanaa and aircraft of the Houthi terrorist organization. The aircraft that were attacked served the Houthi terrorist regime for transporting terrorists who promoted terrorist activities against the State of Israel”, the military spokesperson announced. The IDF characterized Sanaa’s central airport as routinely operated by the Houthi regime for what it termed terrorist purposes, drawing parallels to the Hodeidah and Al-Salif ports that were targeted the previous week.

Israeli military officials accused the Houthis of exploiting civilian infrastructure for military operations. “This is another example of the cruel use the Houthi terrorist organization makes of civilian infrastructure for terrorist activities”, the IDF statement read. The military emphasized its determination to continue operations, declaring that “the IDF is determined to continue operating and striking forcefully against anyone who poses a threat to the residents of the State of Israel, at any distance required”.

The current strike follows Operation “Red Sunsets”, executed approximately ten days earlier, during which Israeli aircraft targeted the Hodeidah and Al-Salif seaports in Yemen. That operation involved 15 aircraft dropping 35 munitions on both ports, which are under Houthi control. According to IDF assessments, these ports serve for transferring combat equipment and represent what the military describes as cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure for terrorist activities.

The IDF characterized the port strikes as responses to Houthi aggression, stating they were designed to “deepen the damage to the Houthis’ terrorist capabilities”. The Israeli military emphasized that strikes were conducted “after many preliminary warnings by the IDF to minimize possible harm to the civilian population in the area of these sites, and prevention of any hostile activity from the ports will continue”.

Israeli military assessments indicate that the Houthi organization has been operating aggressively for the past year and a half under Iranian direction and funding, aiming to harm Israel and its allies while undermining regional stability and disrupting global shipping freedom. In response to what it characterizes as terrorist use of maritime infrastructure, the IDF issued warnings for civilians to evacuate port areas, stating, “In light of the use the Houthi terrorist regime makes of these ports for terrorist purposes, the IDF again warns those staying at the ports to distance themselves and evacuate the area”.

The intensification of hostilities between Israel and the Houthi rebels has accelerated in recent weeks, with Yemeni insurgents increasing the frequency of projectile launches toward Israeli territory. The near-daily activation of alert sirens across Israel has prompted what Israeli officials describe as a decisive military response, manifested through repeated strikes on various target facilities throughout Yemen. Israeli leadership presents these operations as expressions of its retaliation policy against threats to territorial sovereignty, while consistently emphasizing Iranian support and funding for Houthi activities.

The Israeli military campaign in Yemen represents part of a broader regional escalation, as Israel conducts operations against what it characterizes as an Iranian-supported network of hostile forces. The strikes form part of Israel’s strategy to counter what it views as coordinated aggression from Iranian proxy organizations across the region. However, the continued Houthi launches despite repeated Israeli strikes raise questions about the operational effectiveness of the military campaign in achieving its stated objectives of deterring future attacks.

Operation “Golden Jewelry” exemplifies Israel’s current approach to responding to Houthi attacks, combining targeted infrastructure strikes with public declarations of escalatory intent. The operation reflects Israel’s broader strategic posture of direct retaliation against groups it identifies as threats, regardless of geographic distance. Yet the persistence of Houthi projectile launches following previous Israeli strikes suggests that achieving long-term deterrence against the Yemeni rebels remains an ongoing challenge.

The regional implications of the Israel-Houthi confrontation extend beyond bilateral hostilities, as the conflict intersects with broader patterns of instability affecting international shipping lanes and regional security architecture. The escalating cycle of attacks and retaliation continues to develop against the backdrop of wider Middle Eastern tensions, with both sides demonstrating apparent commitment to continued military action.

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