Franklin Graham Dedicates Ambulances in Israel

To help save lives and replenish its fleet, Samaritan’s Purse President, Franklin Graham dedicated 14 new ambulances last week to Israel’s emergency services agency, Magen David Adom. With minimal resources, medics risk their lives every day as they respond to danger due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. During a special ceremony, Graham dedicated the ambulances to God, and honored the 19 members of Magen David Adom who have been killed since the war started. Samaritan’s Purse will also provide eight additional ambulances, with armor plating, to Magen David Adom.

While on the ground in Israel, one of our podcast correspondents, Stephen, talked with Adrian, a Magen David Adom chief. When asked why he risks his life residing near the northwest border between Israel and Lebanon, Chief Adrian said that he has had a strong desire to help people ever since his childhood.

“We love to help people. It's very, very rewarding.”—Chief Adrian

The ambulance dedication event was powerful. Hundreds attended the ceremony, including the Mayor of Jerusalem, to commission the ambulances and honor the lives lost. Magen David Adom director, General Eli Bin, spoke at the dedication and expressed his heartfelt appreciation for Samaritan’s Purse.

After the dedication finished, Graham took the time to stop by each ambulance where families of the fallen Magen David Adom medics were gathered. Each ambulance has the name of a fallen team member written on the side along with Scripture. A father of a fallen medic expressed his gratitude. Now, every time the ambulance responds to a call it will be as if his daughter is responding with it.

“Mr. Isaacs called me. He said, ‘Franklin, they have lost 14 ambulances.’ And without even thinking, I said, ‘you call them and you tell them right now that we will replace every ambulance they lost.’”—Franklin Graham

Stephen then visited Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel that has received significant missile fire since the war began. Stephen saw the destruction first-hand, including a Samaritan’s Purse beneficiary whose apartment was struck by rockets in October. As she showed Stephen around the damaged space, he discovered through the translator that she is a Holocaust survivor. This woman’s life has been marked by war, but she has remained strong through the many trials and tribulations.

Samaritan’s Purse has partnered with more than 100 local churches and Christian organizations in Israel and Gaza that now act as central hubs for emergency relief. While in Nazareth, Stephen spoke with faithful pastors on the front lines. Pastor Joseph, who leads a Lebanese church in northern Israel, shared what the past three months have been like.

“And what makes this ministry, our ministry amazing is that we don't want just to come and knock at the door and say, ‘OK, we brought you some food.’ We want to sit with those people, mingle with them and hear their pains and try to help them. This is the heart of Jesus.”—Pastor Joseph

Please continue to pray for peace in Israel. Pray for the innocent civilians suffering on both sides of the war and for protection and wisdom as Samaritan’s Purse works through partners in Israel and Gaza. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories on the ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.