Furthermore, the government recently made a strategic decision to move three IDF army bases from Israel’ s central region to the Negev. Considering the ongoing escalation of tensions and warfare in the nearby Gaza area, the urgent need for more comprehensive medical, paramedical and rehabilitative services in the region becomes obvious. The rehabilitation hospital will offer cutting-edge rehabilitation services in a fully supportive medical environment. It will be a venue for para-medical training programs, for which there is great need in the country, and will attract top-quality professionals to settle in the Negev. A staff-residence complex will be built adjacent to the hospital. The rehabilitation hospital is slated to open during the year 2019, and will initially include two hospital wards with 72 beds. A later stage will develop a third ward, bringing the hospital’ s capacity to 108 beds.