May Update: Responding to Crisis in the Middle East

When Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, Samaritan’s Purse quickly deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team, and we began working with dozens of church partners in Israel as well as in Gaza and the West Bank to provide thousands of displaced families on both sides of the conflict with food and other assistance. Now, seven months later, we continue to support both Israelis and Palestinians impacted by the fighting.

In the months since the initial attack, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet immediate food and hygiene needs for tens of thousands, with over 23,000 food vouchers distributed and 18,500 grocery bags handed out. We also airlifted 1,000 advanced trauma kits for medical professionals to use in communities that are furthest from hospitals and emergency service—greatly increasing the ability for injured civilians to receive critical care. In addition, we are overseeing numerous medical clinics in the West Bank and other locations to serve vulnerable Palestinians who have lost access to healthcare since the war began.

When Hamas invaded, they targeted and destroyed ambulances. Fourteen ambulances of Magen David Adom, the nation’s first responder service, were destroyed, and many brave medics were killed as they worked valiantly to save lives. I pledged that Samaritan’s Purse would replace the ambulances and provide an additional eight that would be armoured to help protect their personnel from sniper fire. I returned to Jerusalem in January, where I had the incredible privilege of dedicating 14 new ambulances in memory of those fallen heroes.

I want to thank everyone whose gifts and prayers made it possible for us to provide these resources. We couldn’t do this important work without faithful partners like you.

Ministering in this part of the world is particularly challenging. Its difficulties and dangers were keenly felt last month. I was deeply saddened by the deaths of seven aid workers, including Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom, with World Central Kitchen who were accidentally killed inside Gaza. I am very familiar with the organisation and the good work that they do. When Samaritan’s Purse had an emergency field hospital set up in New York’s Central Park, they so graciously brought food to our staff and volunteers who were working long, hard hours in the battle with COVID-19. And when a hurricane hit in the Bahamas and we had a field hospital set up to help, World Central Kitchen brought food for our team there as well. These recent deaths are a reminder of the hazards that lurk at every corner in Gaza.

Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), and ask the Lord to continue to open doors and grant us favour throughout the country so we can go on helping people on all sides of the conflict. May God bless you.

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse