Magen David Adom honours volunteers massacred on October 7th

Thirty three Magen David Adom volunteers who murdered in Hamas’ rampage on southern Israel were remembered at a dinner for key supporters of the charity in the UK.

Pictures of the heroes, many of whom were killed while coming to the aid of the wounded on 7 October, took pride of place at the event whose guests had helped  raise £15m in the UK for Israel’s medical emergency service in eight months.

Alon Fridman, deputy director general of MDA in Israel, recalled a medic in Be’eri who spent 10 hours treating victims at the kibbutz clinic before being killed by terrorists. He said she would have survived if she’d just stayed at home which wasn’t reached by the attackers. In a powerful address, Mike Marlowe, who’s son Jake lost his life as he tried to protect others as a security guard at the Nova Festival, spoke of the “courage, bravery and modesty that summed up what MDA is all about”.

Liz Padmore, chair of the British Red Cross whose wartime appeal saw some funds go towards MDA’s lifesaving work, was among the 125 guests at The Berkeley Hotel who heard from MDA UK’s CEO and chair Daniel Burger and Russell Jacobs. The latter stressed the charity’s workforce carried out by volunteers of all faiths saving lives of those of faiths and backgrounds stood as a beacon of hope.

Looking to the future, he added: “What if each signatory of the Abraham Accords becomes eligible to send medics to be trained in Israel. Imagine how many ambassadors for Israel could be created.”

Head of fundraising Josh Diamond said: “As we emerge into a new era for Israel, we are ready to lead the conversations about the State of Israel. To use everything that’s brilliant about MDA, as a narrative, as a vehicle for showcasing to the whole world all that’s best about Israel.”

In one of his first addresses since taking on the role of Board of Deputies President, Phil Rosenberg called for an “optimistic alliance” between Jews, Muslims and others to tackle extremism. Muslims, he said, were often the first victims of Islamist extremism whether in Syria, in Gaza under Hamas or in facing indoctrination at home. He also hailed the heroes’ of MDA that are a living example of the alliance he wanted to see.

Since the start of the war with Hamas, MDA UK has purchased 84 vehicles including 27 ambulances and motorbikes, as well as over 800 training sessions for medics.