A special ceremony took place at the MDA station in Jerusalem in the attendance of MDA Chief Eli Bin, the Chairman of the Western Region of the American Friends of MDA Association Mrs. Dina Leeds, MDA management, Chief of the Jerusalem Region Shlomo Petrover and the region management, in order to grant the MDA EMTs and paramedics who responded to the deadly terror attack on Friday evening in N’vei Tzuf in which Joseph, Elad and Chaya Salomon HY”D were killed. During the ceremony, the EMTs and paramedics shared their accounts of how they arrived on the scene, treated the victims and their many attempts to save their lives.

Ron Shmidt, Senior MDA EMT and member of the community’s emergency squad: “I arrived at the house to celebrate the birthday of the grandchild of the Solomons. When I approached the house, I noticed a woman laid on the pathway. In the initial moments, I didn’t know what happened. I thought she had tripped, fell and injured herself. She was unconscious so I began conducting chest compressions and basic lifesaving procedures with my bear hands. In these moments, I did not imagine the horror taking place inside the house. Slowly, more and more people arrived and we realized a deadly terror attack had taken place and that there are more victims. Despite the fear that additional terrorists may be found in the area, nobody thought for even a moment to stop and hide. We knew we had lives to save and that’s what we did.”

Ehud Amiton, member of the community and MDA EMT: “We encountered a grave scene, it is hard to believe that a short time after shaking the hands of the Solomon family members and wishing them Mazel Tov and Good Shabbos, we found ourselves resuscitating them. I was constantly on the phone with the MDA dispatch center updating them of what’s going on. MDA personnel was rapidly arrived in masses. Within minutes, all MDA members in the area arrived on the scene.”

MDA paramedics Shalom Galil and Bezalel Ben Hamo, who were guests at Shabbos dinners in nearby communities immediately arrived on the scene: “When we arrived, an MDA team from N’vei Tzuf, with the assistance of two doctors, provided medical treatment and resuscitated the victims. We continued treating the woman who was injured severely and suffered from a bleeding stab wound. We quickly ascended her onto an MDA mobile intensive care unit, and while transporting her to the hospital we continued to provide her with lifesaving medical treatment. Tova, whose husband and in-laws were killed accompanied the injured woman on the ambulance and continued to inquire about her children’s wellbeing. Within ten minutes we arrived at the hospital and she entered surgery.”

Itai Urion, MDA paramedic said: “While I was manning a shift at the MDA dispatch point in Ofra, we sat down to have Shabbos dinner which was abruptly disrupted with a report of a terrorist who infiltrated a home in N’vei Tzuf and we immediately hopped on the MDA mobile intensive care unit to head over there. The sight was difficult, even on the pathway leading to the house there were signs of violence. There were three victims that received lifesaving treatment from our team. Following thirty minutes of resuscitation attempts with the help of an IDF medical force we had to pronounce them dead.”

The emotional ceremony, during which team member shared accounts of the grave incidents, was also attended by the Chairman of the Western Region of the American Friends of MDA Association, Mrs. Dina Leeds: “You, the people of MDA guarding the homeland, hold the most important value in the palm of your hands – life. Your amazing work makes me very emotional and I am proud to stand here and see your white uniform adorned with a Star of David. Bless you.”

Jerusalem Region Chief Shlomo Petrover added, “This week, we arrived at N’vei Tzuf with professionals to meet and strengthen the MDA personnel who responded to the difficult scene in that community. When it comes to a small community, we must remember that there are emotions involved since responders are familiar with the victims. Despite that, MDA EMTs and paramedics operated in a professional and dedicate manner, despite their familiarity with the victims. They deserve appreciation and honor. I salute them.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)