Israeli paramedic delivers baby, rushes it to bomb shelter during Iran attack

In the heart of Tel Aviv, a city long accustomed to the sound of sirens and the constant threat of danger, a remarkable story unfolded last Thursday. Dr. Gal Rosen, an Israeli paramedic with a career dedicated to saving lives under the shadow of conflict, delivered a healthy baby boy amidst the chaos of an imminent Iranian missile attack. As the Iron Dome missile defense system blared its warning sirens, Rosen didn't hesitate—he quickly gathered the newborn and raced to a nearby bomb shelter, his heart pounding but his resolve unwavering.

Dr. Gal Rosen is no stranger to emergencies. As a paramedic for Tel Aviv's Magen David Adom (MDA), he has faced countless life-threatening situations, often under the threat of missile strikes and cross-border attacks. His journey began when he lost his mother at a young age to the hands of a terrorist, an event that fueled his determination to help others. After serving as an army paramedic, Rosen chose to continue his work as a civilian, defiantly staying in Israel and working to save lives amidst the turmoil of multiple-front wars.

"Don't think, just act," Rosen has said, encapsulating the mindset he adopts during his harrowing emergencies. While he has saved countless lives, he has also witnessed the heartache of difficult decisions and the loss of those he couldn't reach in time. "We need to choose sometimes," he reflects, "and this is hard." Despite the grim realities of his work, Rosen has chosen to share a rare, uplifting story—one that stands in stark contrast to the harrowing tales he usually keeps from his family to spare them the horrors of his daily life.

Last Thursday, as Rosen responded to an emergency call, he delivered a newborn baby boy in Tel Aviv. Just as he was settling the infant in the ambulance with the mother and father, the ominous wail of the Iron Dome sirens pierced the air, signaling an imminent missile attack. Without a moment's hesitation, Rosen made the split-second decision to leave the mother behind and rush the newborn and the father to a nearby bomb shelter.

"It was so surrealistic," Rosen later recalled, still able to smile at the memory of the extraordinary event. "In my opinion, never happened to me, something like this." This was his fifth emergency delivery of a newborn as a paramedic, but the first under the threat of missile sirens and imminent danger. "This is an amazing thing to share at home," he said, finally finding time to reflect after a week of intense emotions and little sleep. "Most of my stories are not like this. Most of our stories I share are really hard things for my family to hear. This is why, usually, I'm not sharing with my family stories from my work: 'Sorry, I'm not doing it.'"

Rosen's story is a testament to the resilience and courage of those who choose to live and work in Israel, a nation that has long faced the constant threat of conflict and attack. Despite the challenges, Rosen remains committed to his mission, continuing to save lives in the darkest of times. His actions on that fateful Thursday in Tel Aviv serve as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication and bravery of those who put their lives on the line to protect and care for others, even in the face of imminent danger.

In a world where fear and uncertainty often dominate the headlines, stories like Dr. Gal Rosen's offer a glimmer of hope and humanity amidst the chaos. His decision to share this tale of triumph and survival—despite the grim realities of his work—provides a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit of those who choose to face adversity head-on, one life-saving moment at a time.