Our teams are used to operating at the scenes of terror attacks, but what they experienced on October 7 was a completely different type of event. Some of them faced terrorists head-on, some suffered rockets falling right beside them, some were injured, and four lost their lives. Three Magen David Adom paramedics are dedicating their Yom HaZikaron shifts to victims of the October 7 attacks.
Yossi Halabi
“On the morning of October 7, I was sent from the north of the country to the south in order to manage the secondary evacuation of many injured people who were initially brought to Barzilai Medical Center. During the journey, we responded to the sites of missile strikes and addressed casualties in Ashkelon. We saw more injured people than we have ever seen before. We treated people on the side of the road and several wounded people in a residential building that was directly hit by a rocket. We were operating under massive rocket fire. We arrived at scenes of active shooting and evaded encounters with terrorists. This day is a day that can never be forgotten. I dedicate this life-saving shift to my friends who did not survive October 7 and who became victims of this terrible terrorist incident. I wish for us to be ready always and hope that we are we will never again see scenarios like we have experienced in the last six months.”
Orly Ben-Simon
“We were woken by the non-stop sounds of my daughter’s phone on the morning of October 7. She works for the border police. My husband, a police officer, and I also received Red Alerts from the south, but didn’t understand what was happening initially. We turned on the TV and witnessed the massacre that was taking place in the Western Negev and in Southern Israel. Within a short time, my three children left the house to go and protect the county, the youngest who’s in the border police went to her station and my other children were called to the reserves. My husband was placed on standby with the police. My MDA region, Yarden, was placed on high alert. The pain, tears, and feeling of helplessness were overwhelming. Soon, the northern front also heated up. My whole family was recruited, and along with the worry and concern, we felt that this was our mission and wished we could do even more. I dedicate this life-saving shift in memory of MDA’s and other security forces’ fallen horoes. We are determined to continue in their path, shining their light wherever we go.”
Lior Levy
“I was working the morning shift at the Gush Etzion station in Efrat when MDA dispatch called and asked me to go south. When my colleagues and I were driving near Ashkelon, a car suddenly stopped us and transferred three seriously injured people to our ambulance. We treated them before bringing them to Barzilai Medical Center. Then, we cleaned the blood from the ambulance and immediately went out to save the life of a soldier who was shot in the head and was very seriously injured. Today, thanks to the treatment and quick evacuation, his life was saved, and he is now recovering and talking. Immediately after we left the hospital, we received another call about a rocket strike near a synagogue. We treated a seriously injured person whose leg was severed. We placed on tourniquet on him and gave him medicine to stop the bleeding. Throughout the day, missiles fell near us and one of them fell so close to us, its shrapnel hit the ambulance while were inside it. We continued to rescue seriously injured casualties under rocket fire and Kalashnikovs throughout the day. There were times when bullets passed right over our heads. We risked our lives knowing that we might not return. A few hours into the war, I feared it was the end. I called my wife and told her that I love her and to kiss the children for me because I wasn’t sure that I’d return. Thankfully, I ended the day alive and managed to save dozens of wounded people. On this Yom HaZikaron, I wish for the hostages to return and wish to convey a message to the people of Israel: we are an amazing nation. All the security forces risk their lives to rescue and save everyone. You can be completely certain that you can trust us. Am Yisrael Chai!”
