A particularly exciting closing ceremony was held at the Lod Municipality Plaza, where a new operational ambulance of the ZAKA 360 organization was inaugurated.
The ambulance was donated by the Jewish community in Panama, in memory and in honor of the members of the Kutz family, who were murdered in the Gaza village on October 7th - with the participation of family representatives, who were accompanied by the unit's volunteers and Commander Elhanan Roth during their difficult time and throughout the identification process at the "Shura" camp.
The founder of Unit 360 - the National Assistance Network, Hezi Shebaks, who hosted the event, spoke with emotion about the special giving of the Kutz family. "They were a great light that was suddenly extinguished, but their memory will never be erased. The new ambulance will perpetuate their memory and their good deeds forever," the founder of the unit told the family.
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The guest of honor of the event, former Minister MK Itamar Ben Gvir, presented a special certificate of appreciation on behalf of ZAKA 360 to the Panamanian ambassador, and in his remarks expressed his great appreciation for the volunteers' activity with true dedication, especially during the current period. He emphasized the need for a strong ZAKA 360, for the citizens of the State of Israel.
Rabbi Horwitz, the rabbi of the organization, emphasized in his speech the importance of continuing the legacy of kindness of the Kutz family.
The former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yona Metzger, expressed his great appreciation for the warm embrace that the Jewish community in Panama gave to the people of Israel and offered condolences to the members of the Kutz family who participated in the event.
The chairman of ZAKA 360, Israel Morgenstern, emphasized the mutual responsibility of the Jewish people: "The ambulance will carry the memory of the Kutz family, so that no one will forget what happened and their legacy of giving for the sake of others.".
The ceremony was attended by prominent public figures, including the Mayor of Lod, Yair Revivo, who spoke about his personal acquaintance with the unit's activities and emphasized the municipality's close cooperation with the organization and the extensive assistance provided to Lod residents through the Bereavement Relief Fund.
Panamanian Ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen, who was the driving force behind the donation, said: "The Panamanian community is an inseparable part of Israel.".
The inauguration of the ambulance was attended by Lod Police Chief Lt. Col. David Miron, Municipality Director General Aharon Atias, Deputy Mayor Elvira Kolichman, Chairman of the Religious Council Adv. Shabtai Katash, and City Council members Yaakov Kasher, Reuven Lankari, and Shmuel Borkis, alongside team commanders in the unit and many volunteers who came from all over the region.
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