On Sunday, February 26, two Israeli brothers, Hillel and Yigal Yaniv, were shot and killed near Nablus in Samaria. Yigal, 20, was a volunteer with Magen David Adom. He was scheduled to graduate as an EMT this week and aspired to join MDA’s Medicycle unit as a first responder.
“I arrived at the scene and immediately recognized the wounded,” said Gil Bismuth, a senior EMT with Magen David Adom. “We fought for their lives, but unfortunately, the injuries were very serious and we couldn’t save them.
“Yigal and Hillel were friends with my children,” he added. “They were members of our household. It is a very difficult and painful loss.”
Not initially knowing if there would be additional causalities, MDA responded with paramedics, EMTs, Medicycles, and conventional and armored ambulances, including six ambulances sponsored by American donors.
The next day, Elan Ganeles, a 26-year-old American in Israel for a wedding, was shot by several gunmen near Jericho.
“When we arrived, the victim was unconscious outside his car with gunshot wounds to his upper body,” said MDA paramedic Eden Cohen.
“We immediately moved him to the MICU [Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulance], provided advanced lifesaving treatment and fought to save his life, performing CPR all the way to the hospital.” Regrettably, Elan died from his injuries hours later at the hospital.
Originally from West Hartford, Conn., Ganeles graduated from Columbia University in 2022 with a degree in sustainable development and neuroscience. Previously, he had spent two years in Israel as a “lone solider,” occupying the rank of sergeant and working as a computer programmer on financial monitoring systems.
Magen David Adom remains on high alert as terrorists repeatedly target Israeli civilians on the roads, and the IDF performs near-nightly raids in Judea and Samaria to deter terror plots.
“We are sleeping with our shoes on,” said Yoni Yagodovsky, director of international relations for MDA. He thanked American supporters: “These are difficult days for Israel, and for Magen David Adom, and we appreciate everything you do to help us save lives wherever and whenever we can.”
Our hearts go out to the families of the Yaniv brothers and Elan Ganeles. May their memories be a blessing among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
