As war continues to disturb Israeli life and sirens send millions rushing for shelter, inside Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Hospital, a very different sound fills the air, the cries of hundreds of newborn babies.

Since the outbreak of the war, over a thousand infants have been delivered at the hospital, with staff describing the process as both overwhelming and deeply inspiring. In the midst of fear and uncertainty, the nurses of the maternity ward are calling these newborns the country’s “real victory.”

The head of nursing at the maternity and newborn division, Bat Ami Israel, paints a vivid picture of two parallel realities taking place at once. “On the one hand, there is a war outside, and on the other hand, inside the hospital, life must continue in full force.”

To maintain that continuity, Shaare Zedek has undergone a difficult and dramatic transformation. Key maternity services, including delivery rooms, triage areas, and operating rooms, have been relocated to fortified underground complexes. These protected spaces allow doctors and nurses to continue working even during active missile alerts.

“Even when there are sirens, we do not stop,” a staff member said. “The delivery rooms are protected, and everything continues as usual.”

Doctors emphasized that even the most sensitive procedures continue uninterrupted. “We perform C-sections, we deliver babies, everything happens here, even during sirens.”

The war has also changed the behavior of mothers in labor. “There are women who come much earlier because they are afraid they won’t make it in time if there is a siren,” a midwife said. “And there are those who come at the very last minute, and then it becomes a very quick birth.”

In some cases, the situation becomes scary. One woman gave birth just outside the hospital, in the parking lot. “The baby didn’t wait.” Medical teams rushed outside to assist in the delivery.

Another difference comes from the absence of fathers. With tens of thousands of reservists deployed, many husbands are unable to be present for the birth of their children. “There are fathers who are at war now,” hospital staff said, “and they are not here for the birth.” So nurses say they have taken on an additional emotional role. “We try to be there for the mothers, not only medically, but also emotionally.”

Despite the pressure, the hospital has expanded its capabilities, opening additional induction rooms and increasing staffing near protected areas. “We prepared for this scenario, since we understood that births do not stop, even during war.” And indeed, they haven’t.