While most Israelis rushed to protective shelters during air raid warnings, emergency medical volunteers with Magen David Adom made the opposite choice – heading directly into harm’s way to rescue others.
“People in Israel go to shelters when the sirens sound. But Magen David Adom volunteers go out of the shelters and save others,” explained Uri Shacham, who serves as chief of staff for the organization.
This stark difference in response highlighted the crucial wartime mission of MDA, Israel’s national emergency medical and blood service organization, during the June 2025 conflict when Iranian rockets and unmanned aircraft targeted Israeli urban areas. The service was forced to execute emergency protocols it had spent years developing – deploying medical personnel into active strike zones while maintaining continuous emergency healthcare operations amid ongoing attacks.
Operating from its central command center in Ramla to damaged residential buildings in Bat Yam, MDA’s response system depended on swift emergency dispatch procedures, extensive preparedness training, reinforced operational facilities, and a nationwide network of volunteer emergency responders.
