Samaritan’s Purse donates 20 ambulances to Israel following Hamas attacks

As Israel continues to recover from the deadly Hamas attacks of October 2023, Samaritan’s Purse is stepping in to help. 

The Christian relief group has now given 20 ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service. A total of 42 are planned, with 28 being armored to handle attacks.

At a ceremony outside the Tower of David in Jerusalem, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, dedicated the newest ambulance alongside former Governor Mike Huckabee, MDA leaders, and Israeli terror survivors. 

The ambulance is equipped with a mobile intensive care unit and can operate under fire.

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The funds for the vehicle came from Pastor Greg Laurie and his church, Harvest Christian Fellowship. Laurie told those gathered, “We want to say as Christians that we stand with Israel. You’re not alone.”

Franklin Graham read from the Bible, saying that Abraham was like a first responder when he rescued his nephew Lot.

“Abraham was the MDA of his generation,” Graham said. He also took time to speak directly to three women who had lost loved ones or had been held hostage by Hamas. One of them, Karina Engel, shared her emotional story. 

Engel’s husband, Ronen, was killed defending their home, and she and her two daughters were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. They were held for 52 days before being released. Ronen’s body is still being held by Hamas.

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Franklin Graham embraces Karina Engel, a hostage survivor, during an emotional moment at the ambulance dedication ceremony in Jerusalem. Engel’s husband was killed in the October 2023 Hamas attacks. (Shealah Craighead via Samaritan’s Purse)

Karina told the crowd that a Samaritan’s Purse ambulance, dedicated in her husband’s memory, is now stationed near their home. 

“Every morning when I leave for work, I say ‘good morning’ to Ronen,” she said through tears. She then placed a yellow ribbon on Graham’s jacket, honoring those still held hostage.

Mike Huckabee spoke at the ceremony and said the need for an armored ambulance shows how serious the threat still is. “This is an…