Bringing Palestinian children into Israeli hospitals for life-changing care.
The Peres Center’s Saving Children Program helps Palestinian children access advanced medical treatment in Israeli hospitals when the care they need is not available within the Palestinian health system.
The program is rooted in more than two decades of cooperation between Palestinian families, Palestinian doctors, Israeli hospitals, and the Peres Center. It handles the complex coordination required to make treatment possible — from medical referrals and hospital arrangements to permits, travel, translation, and emotional support for families.
Their Role in Civil Society
Saving Children plays a distinct role in the broader civil society ecosystem by turning cross-border medical cooperation into a practical expression of dignity, care, and shared humanity.
In a context where political barriers, movement restrictions, and gaps in medical infrastructure can prevent Palestinian children from receiving specialized treatment, the program creates pathways into Israeli hospitals for children with serious medical needs. Its work shows how cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli medical professionals can save lives, build trust, and keep human connection possible even amid conflict.
Mission
The Saving Children Program is an initiative of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation that facilitates life-saving and life-changing medical treatment for Palestinian children in Israeli hospitals.
The broader Peres Center was founded in 1996 by Shimon Peres and works with local, regional, and international partners to advance initiatives serving people of all ages, religions, genders, and cultural backgrounds. Within that wider institution, Saving Children focuses specifically on medical access, hospital coordination, and long-term care pathways for Palestinian children with serious health needs.