COMMENTARY

Last week, five ambulances crossed into Syria from northern Israel.

They were not new. They were not shiny. But they were ready to save lives in communities where help rarely comes, and where danger has become a daily reality.

Through the humanitarian work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, these ambulances are now serving Druze and Christian families in Syrian villages torn apart by violence. For many of these families, this is the first reliable medical support they have had in years.

And for me, this moment carries a deep and sacred meaning.

For decades, Christians around the world have stood with Israel, with our elderly, our children, our soldiers, and our survivors. They have prayed for us, supported us, and lifted us up in our darkest hours. Today, as Christian communities just across our border face persecution and fear, it is our turn to stand with them.

Because suffering does not stop at a border. And neither does compassion.

When our teams at The Fellowship learned of the growing attacks on Christian and Druze communities in southern Syria, we knew we could not look away. These are people who share our values, our longing for peace, and our belief in the sacredness of every human life.

So we acted.

In cooperation with Magen David Adom, COGAT, and the Israel Defense Forces, we transferred five ambulances to local medical teams serving these vulnerable villages.

At the border, Druze paramedics from Israel helped ensure that Syrian emergency medical teams were able to use the equipment safely and effectively, passing on practical knowledge that will save lives long after the ambulances crossed over.

It was a simple act. But in a place where hospitals have been bombed, where roads are dangerous, and where families have nowhere to run, a simple act can mean the difference between life and death.

For years, The Fellowship has supported minority communities in the buffer zone. It has built medical clinics, delivered medicine and equipment, and provided food to families who have lost everything. Many of these families are Christian. Many are Druze. All are precious in God’s eyes.

Their suffering is real. Their fear is real. But so is their courage.

I have met Christians in the Middle East who continue to pray, continue to worship, and continue to hope even as their communities shrink and their churches are threatened. Their faith humbles me. Their resilience inspires me.

And with this aid comes a promise: As long as there are innocent people in danger, we will show up. As long as Christians are persecuted for their faith, we will not be silent.

My Christian friends, your love for Israel has changed lives here. It has saved lives here. And now, together, we are extending that same love to those who need it just beyond our border.

The world may be divided. The headlines may be heavy. But our calling remains the same: to protect life, to uphold dignity, and to shine God’s light wherever it is needed most.

For over forty years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has answered that calling, and it remains committed to doing so.

In moments like this, our answer is simple: Hineni. Here we are.

Yael Eckstein is President and Global CEO of The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations, and is a respected Jewish leader, speaker, bestselling author, and an award-winning podcast host and humanitarian. A 2025 'Pillars of Jerusalem' award recipient for her exceptional contributions to Israel's public diplomacy, and The Jerusalem Post's 2023 Humanitarian of the Year, Yael is a Chicago-area native based in Israel with her husband and their four children.