Dear Friends
Last night was the 8th candle of Chanukah - and we can all be Maccabees for MDA. As the western Negev reverberates with rockets being aimed at Israel's people, MDAUK has re-launched its RED ALERT appeal today.
Israel and MDA need us. None of us knows how long the current action will last in Gaza. What we do know is that Israel is defending itself against Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to say their goal is the destruction of Israel.
Yesterday, for the first time, a Grad rocket fired from Gaza reached Ashdod and these, as well as Qassam rockets and mortars are continuing to bombard Sderot, Sha'ar HaNegev, Netivot, Eshkol and the entire western Negev as well as Ashkelon, Yad Mordecai, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod, threatening the citizens of Israel in their homes. Today a Grad Katyusha rocket killed one person in the center of Ashkelon and wounded six others as Hamas continues to attack Israel despite massive aerial attacks. One person was seriously injured, and five others suffered light wounds and shock.
Mayor Benny Vaknin, who reported the attack in the middle of an on-the-air interview with Voice of Israel government radio, said that the rocket hit a building under construction. Witnesses reported the explosion was extremely powerful and broke through a concrete floor eight-inches think.
"It is a miracle" that many more were not wounded in the explosion, which occurred several feet away from a heavily populated area. He declined to identify the area for security reasons.
As he spoke on the radio, Magen David Adom ambulances arrived at the scene within two minutes and evacuated the wounded to the port city's Barzilai Hospital.
MDA is on full and highest alert, reinforced with personnel and vehicles from throughout Israel, to safeguard Israel's people. Every rocket brings MDA paramedic teams speeding to the scene to ensure that the injured receive the best treatment, quickly and compassionately.
Today, and the next three days, especially as the year ends, is the time to speak with everyone you know to bring the message of MDA's heroic effort to keep Israel safe in a time of war, when the country's civilian population is under the threat of attack. Right now, MDA has taken the following action:
- Mobilized 400 ambulances
- Moved armored ambulances to the south
- The MDA National Blood Services Centre is on high alert
- Extended the hours of 12,000 volunteers
- Reassigned staff to southern stations
Here is what you can do:
- Forward this to everyone you know
- Call anyone who know who has traditionally contributed to MDAUK to ask for a special year end gift for Red Alert
- Make your own year end contribution for Red Alert
- Write personal notes to your community leaders, rabbis, and opinion makers - Help them understand the needs of MDA.
Now is the time for action
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Magen David Adom UK, a company limited by guarantee (company number 5718138) whose registered office is at Shield House, Harmony Way, off Victoria Road, London, NW4 2BZ. Registered Charity Number: 1113409