“For years, the uniform of Magen David Adom (MDA) served as a symbol of neutrality and medical assistance. On October 7, 2023, “that assumption was shattered,” when emergency responders came under attack while treating the wounded, Uri Shacham, the organization's Chief of Staff & Head of Technology Innovation, said Thursday at the Jerusalem Post’s Diplomatic Conference.
Shacham, who joined MDA as a 15-year-old volunteer hoping to ride in an ambulance, said he quickly discovered that the work was about more than the excitement of responding to emergencies. He recalled learning the value of simply being present for people during their most difficult moments.
On October 7, MDA's teams faced a reality in which their uniforms no longer offered protection. Ambulances and stations were targeted, and two of MDA’s medics from Kibbutz Nir Oz were murdered by Hamas terrorists while caring for wounded civilians. Despite the danger, responders continued working.
“They chose to be emissaries for life,” Schacham said. They did not enter dangerous areas because they disregarded their own safety, he explained, but because they cared about the lives of others.
The organization also had to make rapid decisions to protect its personnel on that day. Shacham highlighted the decision by MDA's director-general to deploy armored, bulletproof ambulances during the attack, saying that the vehicles saved lives.
Beyond the immediate response, Shacham described MDA's investment in preparing for emergencies through advanced training and technology. Its training infrastructure includes simulation systems and protected facilities designed to prepare responders for complex scenarios.
International support has also helped the organization expand its capacity. According to the conference's accompanying briefing, MDA operates approximately 2,000 ambulances and has developed a protected blood center capable of handling tens of thousands of units of blood even during missile attacks Shacham thanked MDA's 40,000 volunteers and employees, emphasizing the dedication of those who continue to provide emergency care throughout Israel. He stressed the risks facing emergency medical teams and the importance of equipping them to keep responding when lives depend on it.
Written in collaboration with MDA