Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz
Health Minister Nitzan HorowitzAvshalom Sassoni/Flash90

On Sunday morning, Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz departed on an official trip to Ukraine, thus becoming the first government minister to visit the country since the outbreak of hostilities.

Horowitz is set to travel to Mustyska, the location of Israel's field hospital, where he will meet with the country's humanitarian delegation and Ukrainian officials, and also tour the hospital itself.

Prior to his departure, Horowitz told media that, "I am on my way to Ukraine, to the Kochav Meir field hospital that was established in order to provide aid to the many refugees in their hour of need. Our common humanity is tested at such times, and we are obligated to continue to provide assistance to the Ukrainian people who are being cruelly attacked by Russia. My aim in this trip is to provide encouragement to our wonderful healthcare teams who are situated there and have already treated over a thousand refugees. This is a source of great pride for us."

Horowitz added that, "My trip is also a way of showing solidarity with Ukraine which was attacked due to its determination to cling to democracy and freedom. This is a struggle of the entire democratic world of which Israel is a part."

The Kochav Meir field hospital, named for former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, was established in the town of Mustyska in western Ukraine last month by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the Health Ministry, and the Sheba Medical Center.

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