Three people were injured - one seriously and two lightly - after a fire broke out in the internal medicine department at Laniado Hospital in Netanya on Tuesday evening, according to Israel's Fire Rescue Authority.

The ward was evacuated by officers from the fire department soon after they arrived on the scene, and the fire was swiftly extinguished with no further injuries.

The fire is suspected to have begun when one of the injured people began smoking in their room, a Fire Rescue Authority spokesperson said.

LANIADO HOSPITAL in Netanya, where a fire broke out after a patient was suspected of smoking in their room.
LANIADO HOSPITAL in Netanya, where a fire broke out after a patient was suspected of smoking in their room. (credit: Courtesy Laniado Hospital )

"Due to the immediate actions of the hospital's emergency personnel and the firefighters, there is no further need to evacuate the ward," the Fire Rescue Authority concluded.

Police receive reports of arson in West Bank village

In a separate incident, Israel Police also announced on Wednesday that they had received reports of deliberate burning of Palestinian property in the West Bank.

IDF soldiers, police forces, and Border Police officers arrived at the village the reports originated from, and successfully extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported.