Charities appeal for support during terror war in Israel

Leading Israel charities in the UK have launched emergency campaigns.

As news of the violence broke on Saturday, Magen David Adom UK, the UK arm of Israel’s medical emergency service, took the unprecedented step of launching its Operations Swords of Iron appeal during Shabbat.

In Israel, MDA is now operating at full capacity at a cost of 1 million shekels a day to provide 96 percent of Israel’s blood supplies.

MDA UK CEO Daniel Burger tells Jewish News: “I am bowled over by the love and support of the community who rightly so are rallying around to support Israel. Magen David Adom is putting itself on the front line 24/7 at an additional daily cost of £250,000 to run at full operational capacity.

“We are also looking to replace the ambulances which have been destroyed in these disgusting acts of terrorism including the murder of one of our medics whilst on a shift.

“MDA UK stands firm with the people of Israel and I cannot express enough my gratitude to all our supporters during this horrific time.”

To support MDAUK’s campaign, go to https://donate.mdauk.org/

UJIA CEO Mandie Winston tells Jewish News: ” We are in mourning but our tradition inspires us to action.”

She says UJIA’s teams in the UK and Israel “have been working non-stop to meet critical needs in Israel: financial support for those whose homes have been destroyed, trauma relief for those families who have witnessed unspeakable atrocities, and we are now providing protective equipment for communities in the North in anticipation of further attacks from Hezbollah.”

She adds that they are “getting in new requests the length and breadth of Israel every hour. We are pushing money to Israel as it comes in, but to meet the most vital of these calls for help, we need to send £1 million before Shabbat.”

Winston calls on the community to “continue to show their solidarity with all of the Israeli people.”

To support UJIA’s campaign go to https://ujia.org/#donate

Assaf Admoni, CEO British friends of United Hatzalah tells Jewish News the organisation “is a vital part of the war effort in Israel and as an international charity it is the closest and most effective way that the diaspora can support Israel’s efforts.”

To date, United Hatzalah has raised around $15 million globally, of which an estimated $1 million has come from the UK. A spokesperson says the charity desperately needs the funds for “medical supplies, bulletproof vests and helmets and emergency and logistic vehicles.”

To donate, go to https://israelrescue.org/en_GB/