Family members of Gaza hostages storm Israeli parliament
Family members of Gaza hostages stormed the Israeli parliament on Monday, demanding the return of their family members from Hamas. (Reuters)
Fourteen new ambulances are now in the possession of Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national ambulance and emergency service agency, after a donation from the Rev. Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse, which is a charitable Christian organization that helps people around the globe.
A dedication ceremony took place on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
On the ground in Israel, Graham told the agency, "I believe in this organization. You risk your life to save life – and I felt that these ambulances needed to be replaced immediately," the team at Samaritan's Purse shared with Fox News Digital on Tuesday afternoon.
During the Oct. 7 attack on innocent Israeli civilians, Hamas terrorists killed some 1,200 people and destroyed 14 Israeli ambulances; since the war began, 19 medics have also been killed, Samaritan's Purse relayed to Fox News Digital.
The organization has now replaced those 14 ambulances. It said that in the months ahead, it will further expand Magen David Adom's fleet by providing seven additional armored ambulances.
The Rev. Franklin Graham met with families in Jerusalem this week as Samaritan's Purse donated 14 new ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s national ambulance and emergency service agency. (Samaritan’s Purse)
Graham spoke to the widow of Dr. Daniel Levi, who was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 as he treated wounded people in a clinic in Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel.
"Do you think your husband would’ve liked this?" Graham said to Lihi Levi-Ingber, the organization told Fox News Digital.
"Yes, of course, anything that involved saving lives he would appreciate," she responded.
She stood with Graham and her two young daughters in the back of one of the ambulances that was dedicated to her husband.
The Rev. Franklin Graham said to Israelis victimized by the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas, "We love you, and we stand with you." Graham is shown meeting with the widow of Dr. Daniel Levi in November 2023. (Samaritan’s Purse)
Graham told the families during a rainy dedication in Jerusalem, "We love you, and we stand with you."
He told the grieving families, "We don’t always understand why these things happen, why tragedy happens. But we have faith in God and know that He loves us," per Samaritan's Purse.
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"Some may ask why we are helping," Graham also said, then added, "I’m an evangelical Christian who loves Israel."
"We dedicate these ambulances today to God – to His glory – and we honor those who have lost their lives."
He said he believes that "Magen David Adom has an incredible team, and I am proud to have a small part in your lifesaving work. We dedicate these ambulances today to God – to His glory – and we honor those who have lost their lives."
Ophir Levy, father of 19-year-old Lior Levy who was also killed by Hamas, said of the ambulances, "These are not just vehicles but a symbol of life, courage and hope. … Every time an ambulance goes on a mission, it will be like Lior and her friends are still helping and saving lives."
Lihi Levi-Ingber, center, stands with the Rev. Franklin Graham and her two young daughters inside the ambulance dedicated to her husband. (Samaritan’s Purse)
Samaritan's Purse said the inscription of her name and the names of the other fallen medics was unveiled for the families to see on the ambulances for the first time Tuesday, along with Bible verses that accompany the inscriptions.
The ceremony took place at the National Library in Jerusalem where Yaakov Blitshtein, the director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and Eli Bin, Magen David Adom's director-general, spoke to still-anguished family members.
"Countries and international organizations chose to look away and ignore the horrors experienced by the people of Israel …"
"There are no words that can comfort you or express our deep sorrow for the loss," said Eli Bin, per Samaritan's Purse.
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"At a time when countries and international organizations chose to look away and ignore the horrors experienced by the people of Israel, Samaritan’s Purse acted in accordance with the divine and moral commandment and reached out."
On Tuesday, Graham also announced that Samaritan's Purse will continue to assist MDA by working with local municipalities to provide new ambulance stations in some communities at continued risk, the group said in a statement.
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In addition to supporting emergency medical services, Samaritan’s Purse has provided 18,500 food boxes, nearly 4,000 hot meals and more than 18,000 food vouchers to families in need.
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The North Carolina-based organization has also provided 1,000 advanced trauma life support kits to help the country’s emergency responders.
A Samaritan’s Purse disaster assistance response team deployed to Israel soon after the war broke out, the organization told Fox News Digital, and is "continuing to support local municipalities and church partners to meet the emergency needs of suffering civilians."
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