In the heart of the chaos of October 7, the struggle of the Magen David Adom paramedics

From the early hours of October 7, 2023, the teams of Magen David Adom organized emergency aid, intervening in the heart of the attacked localities and on roads where fighting was still ongoing.

In Mefalsim, Oren Benita and his wife Merav, both paramedics with Magen David Adom, were awakened by the sirens, soon followed by gunfire in the kibbutz. Two soldiers wounded by gunfire were then brought to their home, where the couple transformed their living room into a treatment room using medical equipment kept on site. Their three children remained sheltered while the fighting continued around the house and soldiers returned fire from the roof and the balcony.

As medical supplies ran out, the condition of the wounded made their evacuation increasingly urgent. Oren Benita finally decided to escort them under protection to the entrance of the kibbutz, from where an armored ambulance transported them to a hospital. A few weeks later, he found the two soldiers on their feet. “It was worth it,” he said.

At the same time, paramedic Anastasia Stelmachov had just completed a 24-hour shift. Nevertheless, she chose to remain on duty alongside ambulance driver Nashat Nasser. Together, they headed south, where they treated a severely injured police officer in Sderot before evacuating him to a medical station set up in Kochav Michael.

At Alumim, Gilad Honwald, a volunteer paramedic and ambulance driver, left his home with his son shortly after the sirens went off, around 6:30 a.m. He quickly realized that it was not just rocket fire: terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz. Together with Amichai Shaham, another MDA volunteer, he began treating the wounded under fire. Amichai Shaham himself was seriously wounded by gunfire during the rescue operations.

The evacuations were organized using private vehicles, in several rotations. While he was running to fetch one, Gilad Honwald was almost targeted by a member of the kibbutz security team, who recognized him at the last moment thanks to his MDA vest. He ultimately participated in the evacuation of ten wounded people, several of whom were in critical condition. "It was clear to everyone that we were fighting for our home. Anyone else would have done what I did," he said. His actions earned him the Presidential Medal for Civilian Bravery in 2024.

In response to the scale of the attack, Magen David Adom immediately reinforced its operations. The night teams stayed on duty while the morning teams arrived as reinforcements.

Ambulances, including armored vehicles, converged on the south from all over the country. At the same time, care stations were set up at stations, at intersections, in homes, and within the attacked localities.

More than 21,700 calls were received by the 101 emergency centers during the day. In just a few hours, over 1,400 ambulances and mobile intensive care units were deployed across Israel, including more than 300 teams in the south.

The human toll is also heavy within the organization’s ranks. Magen David Adom also pays tribute to 39 employees, volunteers, and caregivers who have died since October 7: eight were killed while on rescue missions, 12 fell defending the country, and 19 others have lost their lives since the beginning of the war.

Their journeys appear alongside testimonies from teams who continued their mission despite the fighting, sometimes even while their own loved ones were themselves in danger. The testimonies, archives, and stories of the rescue workers can be consulted on the dedicated Magen David Adom website.