Taking Samaritan’s Purse total donation since 10/7 to 42 ambulances and two MDA stations.
Avshalom, Israel (September 19, 2024) — The Reverend Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse surprised Magen David Adom while dedicating an ambulance in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin – by committing to give an additional 20 armored ambulances on top of the Evangelical aid organization 22 lifesaving vehicles already purchased.
Standing in the community of Avshalom, on the Gaza Border, almost a year to the day after the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham dedicated two armored ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency services system, in the memory of three American-Israelis killed by Hamas; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Roi Idan and Smadar Mor-Idan.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage from the Nova Festival and murdered 11 months later in Gaza.
Roi Idan and Smadar Mor-Idan, who were murdered in their home in front of their children. Avigail Idan, the four-year-old-daughter of Roi and Smadar, was later taken hostage to Gaza, while her older siblings survived the attack by hiding in a closet for 12 hours.
“Today we are in Israel to dedicate the two armored ambulances that have just arrived, as well as a new ambulance center near the Gaza border where there has not been one before,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “The need is so great, 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.” Said Rev. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse.
Rev. Graham also took part in a ceremony laying the cornerstone for a new Magen David Adom (MDA) station in Avshalom. The station will increase the speed in which Israeli paramedics and EMTs can reach emergencies along the Gaza border.
The armored ambulances and station will be part of a larger gift by Samaritan’s Purse, now totalling 42 rescue vehicles, of which twenty-eight will be armored, as well as two MDA stations, one in Avshalom and the other in Shlomi, on the northern border.
Fourteen ambulances, which are already in service saving lives in Israel, were donated by the organizationin January to replenish the fleet after Hamas targeted and destroyed rescue vehicles during the October attack.
Earlier this year, the North Carolina-based organization sent one thousand lifesaving trauma supply kits to Israel. Each trauma bag was packed with essential medical supplies — including a combat application tourniquet, chest tube kit, suture kit, and intubation kit — to save lives in the event of further attacks.
The bags were strategically positioned with Magen David Adom first responders throughout communities at high risk for future rocket attacks to increase the speed of emergency medical care.
“The generosity of Reverend Franklin Graham and his organization Samaritan’s Purse knows no bounds. As he dedicated eight additional Magen David Adom armored ambulances and two new MDA stations, he leaned in and told me he would donate another twenty, taking the total amount to forty-two lifesaving vehicles. The entire people of Israel are indebted to this great man and organization.” said Eli Bin, director general of MDA.
