Prioritizing the safety of those who protect and serve others, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews marked the distribution of five armored ambulances at a cost of nearly 6 million shekels (about $1.7 million). The ambulances were presented last week to Magen David Adom at a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters, attended by Safwan Marich, IFCJ director of security and emergency response; Gil Moskowitz, MDA deputy director general of operations; and senior managers affiliated with MDA.
Amid the events of Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel’s first responders have often been thrust to the front lines, with civilians being a regular target for attacks. The armored vehicles enable first-aid crews to operate in areas even under direct threat of shooting and rocket attacks, and help ensure life-saving responses to emergencies that require quick and professional medical intervention. The ambulances will be assigned to communities that continue to face an ongoing threat, including Gaza border communities, the northern border, as well as other particularly vulnerable areas.
The donation is part of the IFCJ’s longstanding relationship with MDA.
Earlier contributions have led to the purchase of two armored mobile ICU ambulances; five mobile ICUs assigned to Druze communities in northern Israel; multiple ambulances; more than 600 defibrillator units; and a variety of other respiratory and life-saving equipment. One of the armored ambulances donated by IFCJ and assigned to the Jerusalem sector was dispatched to the Gaza region on the morning of Oct. 7. The ambulance came under live fire, but because of its armored capability, the lives of the crew were protected, and they were able to perform their life-saving work even as bullet and rocket fire surrounded them.
One of the paramedics who staffed the ambulance on that day recalls: “The fact that we were in an armored unit enabled us to save many lives that day despite directly confronting an ongoing threat. We were able to operate knowing that our safety and that of our patients was being preserved, and it enabled us to reach countless wounded people who otherwise would likely not have been cared for in time.”
“The events of the past year-and-a-half have taught us a crucial lesson,” said Yael Eckstein, president and CEO of the IFCJ. “In order for our rescue forces to save lives, both they and the wounded Israelis they are saving must be fully protected. These ambulances are the cutting-edge vehicles that will enable the Fellowship and its hundreds of thousands of committed donors to fulfill our unshakeable commitment and promise: To save every single Israeli life that we can.”
MDA director general Eli Bin stated that “our many years of partnership with IFCJ have been critical for supporting Israel’s public health-care infrastructure and allow us to continue to expand and operate our life-saving work and ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Israel. We are deeply grateful to the Fellowship for choosing to continue to work towards strengthening Magen David Adom’s medical response abilities through these new armored ambulances that will protect both our crews as well as the patients we are called upon to treat.”
