Magen David Adom UK supporters recently returned from a 4-day mission to Israel (16th-19th March) which included a meeting with President Isaac Herzog and some of the heroes of 7th October.
The mission began with a briefing by MDA Dispatcher, Ronit Glaser, before touring the northern borders to see where the UN peacekeepers are stationed. Former IDF intelligence officer Cpt. (Ret.) Ilan Shulman gave the group an overview of the current geopolitical situation and the unfolding regime change in Syria.
Participants met with Senior MDA Paramedic Adham Safadi and Druze colleagues who attended the scene of the Majdal Shams football field rocket attack. Devastatingly Safadi’s daughter was one of those murdered. They also had an opportunity to visit the Mas’ade MDA station that congregants of a Liverpool church recently renovated.
The following day, the cohort experienced the different MDA first response vehicles, including helicopters and lifeboats on the Kinneret.
Joined by American Friends of MDA, they visited Shaare Tzedek Medical Centre, where they met with wounded soldiers and the centre’s CEO, Professor Ofer Merin. Prof Merin is a member of the three-physicians committee dealing with the medical situations of the hostages. The evening culminated with an exclusive address by the US Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Israel, Stephanie Hallett.
Due to the escalations in the South, the itinerary was changed under IDF guidance for the remainder of the trip.
The group was given a live situation briefing at the MDA National Dispatch Centre in Kiryat Ono and an in-depth talk by Mossad psychologist, Glenn Cohen. Cohen is the chief psychologist for the released hostages, and he shared insights from his interaction with them upon their release from Hamas captivity.
The group met with Eyal Eshel, father of murdered Roni Eshel, and Nova Festival survivor, Ariel Ohana. The participants then made their way to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. There they met Hostage Families Forum volunteers including Gal Korngold, father of recently released hostage Tal Shoham, and Dani Miran, father of still captured Omri Miran.
The mission ended with a visit to the President’s residence in Jerusalem. President Herzog addressed the group, highlighted the importance of hearing the stories of MDA first responders from 7/10, and paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while helping others.
Before heading to the airport, the mission visited the impressive Marcus National Blood Services Centre, in Ramla, where another ambulance dedication took place on behalf of the Southend MDA committee.
As the four-day trip drew to a close, MDA UK Chief Executive, Daniel Burger said, “On every visit I have had to Israel since 7th October the thing that has amazed and encouraged me the most is the people’s resilience. It is incredible to see the response and that’s why we wanted to bring the mission. To see first-hand what our MDA colleagues have been through and what they continue to do to save more lives.”
The mission was in partnership with The Jewish Chronicle.
