The Israel Friends and Let’s Do Something associations have donated four bulletproof ambulances to the force, the Israel Police announced this week.
The ambulances were donated to the “medical department of the Israel Police, and will assist in emergency evacuation in dangerous areas and in saving lives,” the police Spokesperson’s Department said on Tuesday.
Due to the number of deaths and severe wounds that police officers suffered during the Hamas-led invasion on Oct. 7, “the relevant authorities have approved the donation of four ambulances that will serve as medical backup for police officers and fighters of the special units of the police, and will assist in emergency evacuation in dangerous areas,” the statement continued.
The vehicles will assist in incidents where it is too dangerous for civilian ambulances, such as those operated by Magen David Adom and other organizations, to operate. In many instances on Oct. 7, civilian ambulances stayed back from the fighting, waiting for wounded soldiers, police officers and civilians to be transported to them.
“On the first day of the Iron Swords War, 225 police officers were injured during the fighting, with the evacuation of officers carried out in various ways, some not using armored vehicles, which posed a real risk and endangered the lives of the rescue forces,” the police statement added.
Outgoing Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, who finished his term in office on July 17, said, “On October 7, in the surprise attack by Hamas-ISIS, Israel Police officers and fighters stood against terrorist cells, fought on the front line, and saved lives. Following that cursed Saturday, we decided that we must make the necessary adjustments in the field of medical services and increase the number of bulletproof ambulances.”
The new ambulances have armored protection on both windows and doors that can withstand shots fired from Ak-47 assault rifles, a weapon often used by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists.
Other initiatives have also seen bulletproof ambulances and SUVs being donated to emergency response organizations following Oct. 7.
These include an ICU ambulance that was donated to Magen David Adom in Efrat, in memory of Lucy Dee and her daughters Maia and Rina Dee, whom Palestinian terrorists murdered near the Hamra Junction in the Jordan Valley on April 7, 2023.