A cornerstone-laying ceremony for a new Magen David Adom emergency medical station was held in Shlomi, a small town in Northern Israel. Five new bulletproof ambulances were also inaugurated that will be deployed in communities across the country.
The station and the ambulances were donated by Samaritan’s Purse. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse has been a major benefactor of Magen David since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. During that war, Shlomi faced targeted attacks by Hezbollah and entire communities were evacuated.
The medical station and armored ambulances follow previous funding committed by Samaritan’s Purse for 42 ambulances, 20 of which are armored.
The ceremony was attended by Ken Isaacs, vice president of Samaritan’s Purse; Magen David Adom Director-General Eli Bin; Gabi Naaman, head of the Shlomi Local Council; Magen David Adom Asher Region Director Eli Peretz; and Magen David Adom Carmel Region Director Erez Geller, as well as volunteers and staff.
“I’m grateful so many people have been able to come home, and we pray that with the laying of this cornerstone today, even more will return,” said Graham. “We want this ambulance response station and these five armored ambulances to be another brick in a strong wall of protection for the people of Shlomi and northern Israel.
“We thank God for the bravery and dedication of the men and women of Magen David Adom — and we continue to pray to the God of Heaven for peace in Israel,” he said.
"Magen David Adom is an amazing organization,” said Isaacs. “It is an honor for Samaritan’s Purse to partner with them and share in their vision for meeting the needs of the people of Israel.”
“This ceremony is far more than the laying of a cornerstone and the dedication of ambulances — it is an expression of a true values-based partnership around one shared value: saving lives,” said Bin. “In the difficult days after October 7, when the reality in Israel was complex and painful, our partners at Samaritan’s Purse were among the first to arrive, stand by our side, and provide practical assistance.”
According to Bin, the new Magen David Adom station in Shlomi and the bulletproof ambulances strengthen the organization’s preparedness and the resilience of residents along the northern border. “Life is stronger than the threat, and Magen David Adom will always be here, ready to save lives,” he said.
About Samaritan’s Purse
Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations — especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org.
About Magen David Adom
Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s emergency services system. A leader in mass-casualty response and in EMS technology, MDA treats and transports more than 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, tests, and distributes blood to Israel’s hospitals and the Israel Defense Forces; and responds to disasters around the world. For more information, visit savinglivesinisrael.org.
