From Rescue to Recovery: United Hatzalah First Responders Reunite with Rescued Siblings on Their Journey to Recovery

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 11/20/23

United Hatzalah volunteers reunited on Tuesday with two siblings whose lives they saved on Simchat Torah, October 7th.

Itamar and Raya, who were among the numerous individuals who received swift treatment and transportation to various hospitals by United Hatzalah EMTs, paramedics, and doctors, were visited by the ambulance crew and first responders responsible for their rescue. The brothers who are still in the hospital, are on the path to recovering from their injuries.

Expressing his gratitude, Itamar said, "There is no one like United Hatzalah; without them, I wouldn’t be here today."

Ari Gartenhouse, who completed his medical training just before Sukkot and was immediately called into action, recalled, "We found the brothers severely injured and quickly performed necessary life-saving actions on their wounds, and then urgently evacuated them to Soroka Hospital."

Moshe Cohen, the ambulance driver who transported Raya, and Eliezer Maklev, who transported Itamar in his personal car, shared their experiences: "We performed life-saving treatments and stabilized their condition in the field. Immediately after that, we evacuated them from the area that was under fire and transported them to the hospital. It is very gratifying to meet them afterward and see that they are recovering."