Ayala Shlomo, a resident of Kiryat Gat, and Hedva Malca, a resident of Sderot, both gave birth yesterday at Laniado Hospital. Ayala gave birth to a son, and Hedva gave birth to a daughter. Ayala and Hedva are sisters-in-law, the births occurred two hours apart from each other, both gave birth to a second child.

On the morning of Simchat Torah, Hedva woke up to the terrible noise of missiles falling in the city, alongside gunshots, machine gun bundles and grenades being thrown everywhere and shouts of "Allah Akbar". Hedva, nine months pregnant, was staying at her mother-in-law's house for the holiday. She entered the protected room, along with all the nephews and family members. For a number of hours they had to maintain absolute silence and darkness. "We gave the children candies all the time so that they would be quiet. We hung blankets over the windows, so that they wouldn't see any light outside. At the end of the holiday, we managed to make a very short phone call to our family from Kiryat Gat and let them know that we were okay".
 

Ayala was staying at her mother-in-law's house in Kiryat Gat on Simchat Torah. The house was directly hit by a missile. The family was saved because they were staying in the protected room. "We were saved by a miracle!"

The missile hit the house, and if we weren't inside the protected room, I wouldn't be here! During the entire holiday I was sure that none of our family was left in Sderot, I thought they were all gone. The moment we received a short and fragmented phone call from them on the eve of the holiday, it was a crazy relief!" Ayala's son is hospitalised in the fully protected maternity unit, as he was born prematurely - week 35. The maternity unit gives him all the professional and devoted care he needs and allows the family to stay with him.

Ayala and Hedva came to Laniado Hospital to give birth in the protected delivery rooms. They describe a sense of security: "Here we don't feel the war, we feel safe here, the staff surrounds us above and beyond. It is important for us to convey to everyone one simple and true message: Am Yisrael Chai!”