Mission Under Fire: How Electra FM’s Maintenance Division Built an Emergency Ward at Assuta in 24 Hours

It was Thursday afternoon, one week after the outbreak of the “Am Kelavi” war. The phone of Gil Goldschmidt, COO of Electra FM, rang. On the line was Avi Matzliach, CEO of the Maintenance Division:
“Gil, this is the moment of truth. Shai Shriki from Assuta just called me. We need two electricians immediately to help set up a ward on floor -2. I’ll bring in the third.”

The meaning was clear: with Iran’s threat escalating, the hospital had to move patients from the upper floors down to a protected basement. The mission is to transform an empty basement into a fully operational medical ward within 24 hours.

Within just two hours, three skilled electricians were already on-site. But it quickly became clear that the challenge was far greater than a few power connections. What was needed was the rapid deployment of an entire set of critical infrastructure, including complex electrical systems, specialized HVAC, medical gases, communication lines, and fire detection and safety systems. All under intense time pressure, where every minute could mean the difference between life and death.
Gil began mobilizing additional experts from across the country. Dozens of employees and technicians gave up their quiet weekend with their families and rushed to the site. “This is not just routine work,” Gil emphasized, “this is a national mission.”

Sharon Bukovza, Facility Manager at Assuta Ashdod, has grown accustomed to an endless cycle of crises: COVID, ongoing conflicts, and now the Iranian threat. “In a hospital there is no downtime. Any failure, even for minutes, can cost lives,” he explains. For him, facility management is not just about technical maintenance: “A patient deserves the best environment—no dripping air conditioners, no flickering lights, clean walls. Healing is not only medical, it’s also psychological. These details make the difference between hope and despair.”

For a full day and night, the teams worked relentlessly, sometimes under the sound of sirens, while their families at home coped with fear and uncertainty. “My wife and kids know that there are moments when the mission comes before everything else,” Gil admits.

Sharon, who oversees all facility management at the hospital—electricity, HVAC, water systems, plumbing, medical gases, and elevators—doesn’t see his work as merely technical maintenance. “A patient coming to the hospital should receive the very best—no dripping air conditioners, no flickering lights, operating rooms with complex systems that function with zero failures, proper water systems, working television, and painted walls,” he says. “This isn’t perfectionism, but a deep understanding that recovery is not only medical but also psychological. These small details can make the difference between hope and despair.”

By Friday morning, the new ward was ready, right on schedule. The first patients were relocated into a fully functional, safe, and equipped space. Every system was operational, every detail in place. Exhausted but proud, the team received the hospital’s first thank-you call—a few heartfelt words that summed up 24 hours of sacrifice and determination.

Shai Shriki, Head of Operations at Assuta, later sent an emotional letter to Avi Matzliach. In it, he stressed that this was not just another project, but a living testament to shared values. “Beyond contracts and agreements, this is a true partnership that is tested when lives are at stake,” he wrote.

The story of Assuta’s emergency ward is not only a technical achievement. It is the embodiment of an organizational culture that puts mission first. Electra FM’s teams acted with unwavering commitment to saving lives. The knowledge gained here is already being shared across projects, becoming an integral part of the company’s DNA.

Gil’s takeaway message to other facility management providers in critical institutions is straightforward: “You must maintain the highest standards of maintenance and operational routines. In a world where lives depend on systems functioning flawlessly, there is no room for compromise.”

For the employees who took part in this effort, it was neither the first nor the last time they would be asked to rise above themselves. In today’s reality, where emergencies have become routine, the ability to respond swiftly and effectively is as essential as day-to-day professionalism.
Above all, this is the story of people who see their work as a calling—who understand that behind every technical system are real lives. When they do their jobs right, they are partners in the most important mission of all: saving lives and preserving hope.

In an era of uncertainty and ever-emerging challenges, the story of Electra FM’s Maintenance Division at Assuta reminds us that people and organizations are willing to do whatever it takes to keep life going, health protected, and the light burning—even in the darkest hours.