Magen David Adom sent two planes to Bulgaria in response to the terror attack in Burgas on Wednesday.

EMS Chief Eli Bin immediately notified officials in the International Division along with other senior officials, and preparation to dispatch emergency assistance began. Bin contacted Foreign Ministry officials and the relevant arrangements were underway as the news reports of the bombing attack against Israelis in Burgas made their way to Israel. The nation’s primary EMS service is a well-oiled machine and as the magnitude of the attack became clear, officials were already acting to have medical assistance in the air as quickly as possible.

Over 20 physicians from Ichilov Hospital and MDA and paramedics led by Bin and Professor Gabi Barabash of Ichilov led the team which departed from Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, eve of 29 Tammuz 5772 at 22:00. They were stocked with “advanced equipment” that will significantly assist in treating and stabilizing victims of the attack.

Zaka official Reuven Reuven told Israel Radio on Thursday morning that there are some difficulties with local officials, explaining he does not believe this is malicious, but more likely “because they simply do not understand the importance to us regarding expeditious identification and return of the bodies to Israel for burial”.

IDF Colonel Dr. Dudu Dagan, heading the medical team in Bulgaria confirmed this, explaining that while overall cooperation is good, there is the issue of one permitting strangers to operate and take control on one’s turf and this is delaying and somewhat complicating efforts, but nothing too serious.

Israel counterterrorism officials told Israel Radio that they have been urging tour operators to include a qualified security agent in groups traveling abroad but the agency only has the authority to recommend and it cannot compel compliance.

President Shimon Peres on Thursday morning, 29 Tammuz 5772 told the press that Israel will not sit by and absorb such attack and the appropriate actions will be taken against the appropriate parties, vowing “we will reach each and every murderer”, citing the state has the means and determination to carry this out, to hunt down murderers wherever they may be “until they are uprooted”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)