Israeli Hero EMT Honored by Franklin Graham Is Finally Laid to Rest

Audio By Carbonatix

Samaritan’s Purse Donated Ambulance in Ronen Engel’s Memory in 2024

Kibbutz Nir Oz (October 27, 2025) - The body of Ronen Engel, a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) with Magen David Adom (MDA), was at last laid to rest on Tuesday, October 21, in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Engel was killed outside his home, trying to protect his family and kibbutz on October 7, 2023. Hamas abducted his body from Kibbutz Nir Oz to Gaza, and his remains were returned to Israel on Saturday, October 18, more than two years later. 

Samaritan’s Purse donated 21 ambulances to Magen David Adom in January 2024 in memory of its fallen medics. A Life Support Ambulance in Engel’s memory was among them. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, was at the ceremony that took place at the National Library of Israel. 

“It is an honor to dedicate these ambulances today, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to help MDA continue its heroic and exceptional work,” Rev. Graham said at the ceremony.

Engel served as a volunteer EMT with Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency services system. In the days before his death, he was nearing the completion of his training as an MDA ambulance driver. 

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Engel left his family in the safe room, got his gun and his medical bag, and went out to save lives. But he didn’t get past his yard. The bag, containing lifesaving medical equipment and bearing his name, was later found in the kibbutz after he was kidnapped to Gaza.

Ronen is survived by his wife, Karina, two daughters, a son, and a brother. Karina and daughters Mika and Yuval were also kidnapped on October 7 and were released a month later as part of a hostage deal.

“Ronen was a beloved, skilled, and dedicated volunteer who saved lives and helped everyone around him,” said Eli Bin, director-general of Magen David Adom. “Even that day, he left his home as an MDA responder with his medical first-aid kit, intending to fight terrorists and save lives, and he fell in the course of that mission. With the return of Ronen’s body to Israel, we send our deepest condolences to his family and embrace them. His legacy of saving lives will never be forgotten.”

Photo information: Former hostage Karina Engel, wife of Ronen Engel, pins a yellow ribbon on Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham during a special ceremony for a new bulletproof ambulance. The ambulance was donated by the Harvest Christian Fellowship to Magen David Adom, at the Tower of David, in the Old City of Jerusalem, on June 1, 2025. 

Photo credit: ©Eliran Avital. 

Magen David Adom is Israel’s emergency services system. A leader in mass-casualty response and EMS technology, MDA treats and transports more than 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, tests, and distributes blood to Israel’s hospitals; and responds to disasters around the world. www.savinglivesinIsrael.org.