United Hatzalah volunteers reunite with Beit Shemesh missile strike survivor
In a moving reunion, United Hatzalah volunteers recently met with Penina Cohen, who was critically injured in the missile strike that hit Beit Shemesh.
A warm reunion
The meeting took place as part of the organisation’s Rescuer Survivor initiative, which brings together first responders and the individuals whose lives they helped save in moments of crisis.
Among the rescuers were Michael Kibudi, Moishy Shechter, and Menachem Wizman, members of United Hatzalah’s specialised rescue unit. They were among the first on the scene after the missile impact, working under intense and dangerous conditions to provide lifesaving care.
The volunteers recalled the challenging circumstances they faced that day. Cohen had suffered severe injuries, and the team quickly applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before evacuating her on a tactical stretcher to be transferred to the hospital for advanced treatment.
Dudu Amar, head of United Hatzalah’s Levya branch, also attended the reunion. He shared that volunteers remained at the scene for several hours after the strike, continuing to assist other victims and search the area for additional casualties.
The meeting culminated in a heartfelt exchange as Cohen expressed her gratitude to the volunteers for saving her life. In turn, they offered condolences for the loss of her husband, Yosef, who was killed in the attack. That tragic day also claimed the lives of United Hatzalah medic Ronit Elimelech, her mother Sara, and three siblings from the Biton family.
United Hatzalah’s Rescuer Survivor initiative underscores the deep and enduring connection that often forms between emergency responders and those whose lives they touch—bonds forged through courage, compassion, and shared survival in times of crisis.
