AMBULANCE DEDICATED BY FRANKLIN GRAHAM TO THE DECEASED MEDIC MAGEN, DAVID ADOM

By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN January 24, 2024, 08:49 Updated: January 24, 2024, 19:14 Rev. Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan's Purse, stands in front of the ambulance that the American Evangelical humanitarian aid organization donated in honor of Dr. Eitan Ne'eman, an MDA volunteer doctor and senior physician at Soroka University Medical Center Beer Sheva. (Photo credit: Eastside Studio)

In addition to fourteen ambulances, Samaritan's Purse donated seven armored ambulances to MDA. These ambulances are still in the manufacturing process and are expected to be delivered this spring.

The son of the late Southern Baptist pastor Billy Graham founded a Christian humanitarian organization that gave fourteen ambulances to Magen David Adom (MDA) on Tuesday.

Ambulances replaced the same number destroyed during the Hamas massacre on October 7.

President and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham, stated, "MDA must have the right equipment to do its job of saving lives in Israel."

I have faith in this organization. Graham added, "You are risking your life to save lives, and I feel this ambulance should be replaced immediately." "We pray that this ambulance can comfort the people of Israel, knowing that one can respond to any crisis, so we thank God, and we thank God for the MDA."

Graham first stated that Samaritan's Purse would donate an ambulance during his visit to the country in November. He had visited Kibbutz Be'eri, where 100 people were murdered, and witnessed the devastation wrought there. During the trip, he also discovered how terrorists deliberately targeted responders and ambulances.

The children of MDA paramedic Oriel Bibi who fell in active service at the dedication of an ambulance in his memory, donated by Samaritan's Purse. (credit: Eastside studio)

On Tuesday, friends and family had the first opportunity to see and touch their loved one's memorial ambulance.

Ophir Levy, father of 19-year-old Lior Levy, who was killed by Hamas, said: "This is not just a vehicle, but a symbol of life, courage, and hope. Every time an ambulance goes on a mission, it feels like Lior and his friends are still helping and saving lives."

Graham told The Jerusalem Post that he spoke with each family and prayed for them.

Graham stated, "There are a lot of heavy hearts. I try to entertain them as best I can."

CEO, American Friends of Magen David Adom Catherine Reed and Samaritan's Purse Rev. Franklin Graham attended the dedication ceremony for 14 ambulances donated by the American Evangelical humanitarian aid organization. (credit: Eastside Studio)

Yaakov Blitshtein, Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, and Magen Director General David Adom Eli Bin were also present at the ceremony.

In addition to fourteen ambulances, Samaritan's Purse donated seven armored ambulances to MDA. These ambulances are still in the manufacturing process and are expected to be delivered this spring. Graham stated that first responders should be protected if asked to work at the border.

In addition, Graham announced on Thursday that Samaritan's Purse will continue to assist MDA by working with local municipalities to provide new ambulance stations in some communities that are constantly in danger.

The organization has helped families in need with 18,500 meal boxes, nearly 4,000 warm meals, and more than 18,000 food vouchers so far. In addition, a thousand Advanced Trauma Life Support kits were sent. Graham stated that he hoped to donate horses to Sderot to be used for equine therapy for children in the area.

Shortly after the war began, Samaritan's Purse Disaster Response Teams were dispatched throughout Israel.

"People are scared," Graham said. "There are some real problems facing this country, and we hope to help as much as we can." Catherine L. Reed, CEO of American Friends of Magen David Adom, commented on Graham's donation, saying, "At a time when the people of Israel—and Jews around the world—feel alone, this donation means a lot." It shows that Israelis and Jewish communities around the world have friends they can rely on amid protests and an increase in antisemitism.

The second child of the deceased preacher was Graham, who was 71 years old.

Billy Graham's children, including the famous Anne Graham Lotz, were ardent Christian evangelicals. Graham, on the other hand, stated that the young generation of evangelicals did not have a strong connection with the Jewish state. "Young people today—and I think this is a problem across the United States—don't know history.Young people don't know the Bible like their moms and dads," Graham said. "They know very little about the Holocaust and the founding of the state of Israel, or that Israel, more than 75 years ago, came back to life to fulfill God's prophecy."

He also stated that the war in Gaza is not over and that the "confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon" must be resolved at some point. He asserted that Israelis should realize that "there are millions of people in the United States who support Israel, not only with prayers but also with finances."

News Sources: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-783438