Samaritan’s Purse donated two additional vehicles to Israel’s emergency services system on Sept. 19, with 20 more promised.
On Sept. 19, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham was in Avshalom, Israel, on the Gaza border, to donate two armored ambulances to Magen David Adom (MDA), the nation’s emergency services system. These vehicles were given in memory of three individuals killed by Hamas.
Franklin Graham was in Israel to speak at the dedication ceremony for the two ambulances.
Members of the bereaved families of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage from the Nova Festival and murdered 11 months later in Gaza, and of Roi Idan and Smadar Mor-Idan, who were murdered in their home in front of their children, were in attendance.
Franklin Graham stands with the ambulance dedicated in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage and then murdered by Hamas.
“The need is so great,” Graham said, “we have just committed to providing 20 more armored ambulances. The MDA team are heroes, saving lives every day, and it is an honor to stand with them.”
Graham also took part in a ceremony laying the cornerstone for a new MDA station in Avshalom. The station will increase the speed in which Israeli paramedics and EMTs can reach emergencies along the Gaza border. Earlier this year, Samaritan’s Purse also committed to helping build a new station in Shlomi, on the northern border.
Samaritan’s Purse provided these two armored ambulances to MDA.
Fourteen ambulances, which are already in service saving lives in Israel, were provided by Samaritan’s Purse in January to replenish the fleet after Hamas targeted and destroyed emergency vehicles during the October attack.
Samaritan’s Purse has now given MDA 16 rescue vehicles, with six more armored vehicles on the way and an additional 20 more armored vehicles promised, for a grand total of 42.
We have also sent hundreds of lifesaving trauma supply kits to Israel. Each trauma bag has essential medical items—including a combat application tourniquet, chest tube kit, suture kit, and intubation kit—to help save lives in the event of future violence. These were given to MDA first responders in communities at high risk of rocket attacks to facilitate even faster response times for emergency care.
Franklin Graham inside one of the ambulances.
Samaritan’s Purse has been working in Israel and the West Bank since just days after the horrific Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. We have worked alongside our partners to provide food, medical care, and Bibles, among other relief. We are also partnering to bring water, medicine, wheelchairs, and more to those suffering in Gaza.
