Israeli security agencies, the Ministry of Health, and the National Emergency Authority are preparing to conduct a wide-scale exercise simulating a response to a non-conventional biological attack, on Tuesday and Wednesday, at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
The Israeli authorities announced that the exercise will be held on September 8-9, and will witness intensive movement of security and emergency forces and ambulance vehicles, in addition to hearing explosion sounds in training areas, confirming that it is not a real security event or specific threat.
The exercise comes as part of the annual training program for security agencies, and aims to enhance the readiness of emergency agencies, medical institutions, and rescue teams to deal with a biological attack scenario that requires coordination between security agencies, the health sector, rescue teams, government ministries, and local authorities.
The exercise will be held at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem, as well as clinics affiliated with the public health services "Clalit" and "Maccabi" in Ma'ale Adumim, where participating teams will be deployed, with expectations of active movement of security and emergency forces in the area.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, a number of parties will participate in the exercise, including the Ministry of Health, the police, Magen David Adom, the Fire and Rescue Authority, the Israeli army, and the Ma'ale Adumim municipality, in addition to other emergency and rescue agencies.
The exercise aims to test the level of coordination and distribution of responsibilities among various parties in dealing with an unconventional incident at the national level, including crisis management mechanisms and cooperation between security agencies, medical authorities, and emergency services.
The Israeli Ministry of Health confirmed that regular medical activity at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital and patient clinics in Ma'ale Adumim will continue as usual during the exercise days, and that medical services to the public will not be affected.
The authorities warned that residents, patients, and visitors in areas where the exercise will take place may notice a significant presence of forces and rescue teams, and may hear explosion sounds, emphasizing that these activities are part of the training and do not result from a real security incident.
