The Rev. Franklin Graham prayed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday, following his visit to a kibbutz in southern Israel that was devastated by the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charity led by the American evangelical leader, announced the donation of 21 ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel‘s emergency medical charity.
Mr. Graham referred to the actions of Hamas as “evil” and “demonic” in his social media posts.
The donation includes seven armored vehicles, which were provided after Mr. Graham witnessed the aftermath of the attacks. According to the medical group, three MDA medics were killed, including one who was shot in his ambulance.
“It was a privilege to meet and pray with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today,” said Mr. Graham. “This man needs our prayers. He is facing the most trying time since the birth of their nation, with 1,200 people killed, more than 240 men, women, and children taken as hostages, and many injured in the Hamas attack.“
The evangelist, who also heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association founded by his late father, called for prayer for the hostages, their families and Mr. Netanyahu.
“As I spoke with a woman whose husband was taken hostage, the fear and heartache is overwhelming,” he said.
The organization said it is collaborating with more than 50 churches in Israel and in Gaza, and provides support to churches helping Palestinian communities with medicine and food. Samaritan’s Purse has also offered to establish emergency field hospitals with personnel, supplies, and equipment in both Gaza and Israel if needed.
The charity is also supplying sanitary kits, food, and debit cards to internally displaced Israeli survivors of the attack.
“We’re deeply grateful to Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse,” said Eli Bin, director-general of Magen David Adom, in a statement. He mentioned that the armored ambulances “will protect our medics in a conflict in which Israel’s enemy doesn’t abide by the Geneva Convention and deliberately targets medical workers.”
