Governor Kathy Hochul of New York on Thursday visited the national headquarters of United Hatzalah in Jerusalem while on a solidarity visit to Israel.

The President and Founder of United Hatzlah Eli Beer, along with CEO Eli Pollak and VP of Operations Dovie Maisel, gave the Governor an overview of the activities of the hundreds of volunteers who were in the conflict zones from the onset of the war and left everything behind to enter the inferno and save lives under fire, long before the full scale of the disaster was known.

Beer also told the Governor about the dedicated volunteers who were injured in the southern battle zones and the loss of two beloved volunteers, one Jewish and one Arab, who were murdered while attempting to assist the injured under fire.

During the visit, the CEO of United Hatzalah introduced the Governor to two volunteers who had been in the Gaza periphery from the early stages of the conflict and saved several dozens of civilians and soldiers by administering initial treatment in the field while under fire. The Governor heard the heroic stories of the volunteers’ activities and was deeply moved.

Subsequently, the Governor toured the organization’s Dispatch and Command Center, which manages over 2,000 emergency calls daily, coordinating the activities of 7,000 volunteers across the country. She gained insight into the advanced technologies used by the Center and its operational procedures.

Governor Hochul expressed her appreciation at the end of the visit and said: “This extraordinary organization is literally saving lives by the second, during times of routine and emergency by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to ensure swift response to those in need. This is particularly crucial during these challenging times of war in Israel. I came here today with profound gratitude for these remarkable volunteers and I want to thank them for their lifesaving efforts.”

President and Founder of United Hatzalah, Eli Beer, stated, “I was honored to host the Governor, a true friend of ours, who visited Israel to convey support and solidarity after the horrific crimes committed against our people. Despite her many responsibilities, she took the time to witness the extraordinary work of our thousands of volunteers during times of routine and emergency. This is a great honor for us, and we are deeply grateful for her strong support for United Hatzalah and the State of Israel. I also want to convey our gratitude for our friends and supporters in New York and around the world.”