The Paramedic Who Was Murdered While Saving Others

Amit Man, a 22-year-old paramedic, saved lives up until her last breath. She was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, 2023. Amit loved healing people with her medical expertise, as well as with her own voice. The singer/actress decided to put her talents to the side in order to focus on learning the art of life-saving. Her family was the last to hear her voice as she screamed into her cell phone.

Amit’s sister Haliva was with her by phone until the last moment, when Amit said Hamas terrorists had broken into the clinic where she was operating. One voice message was recovered and shared with Aish.com. In the 14 second clip, Amit screams, pleads for her life and you can hear rapid gunfire sounding off around her.

Assigned to the Be'eri Magen David Adom (MDA) team, Amit found comfort in a small house provided by the kibbutz she worked on. She fell in love with the place and forged a deep connection to the community. On Saturday, October 7th, she and her boyfriend awoke to sirens blaring. He was also an emergency responder, working just a few kilometers away in Netzibot. He offered Amit to join him where he was stationed, but she had been on call that day and decided to man her post. Despite the danger, her dedication took her to the dental clinic where Be’eri’s MDA team operates.

When the attack began, Amit, according to her colleagues, acted with unwavering competence. For six and a half hours, she worked tirelessly alongside a doctor, doing her utmost to save lives as countless victims poured into the clinic in need of emergency services. She stopped many from bleeding to death using a tourniquet, all while relaying the horrors to her superiors via phone. She described the chaos and violence unfolding around them, just beyond the clinic door, where two soldiers stood guard.

As the hours wore on, Hamas terrorists continued their assault on the community and eventually breached the clinic. She staunchly aided a wounded soldier, who had been outside protecting her grounds. He was shot. She stopped his bleeding and rested him under an air conditioning unit, soothing him with her words and assuring him it would be okay.

Amit’s cousin Iftach Ophir relayed the story to Aish.com.

“It's always hard when you lose someone close. But when that person cares about saving other people. Standing up to immense darkness and evil. It is bitter. It is more unfair,” Ophir said.

Amit’s family was left in agonizing uncertainty for more than two days after the event. They did not know if she was dead, alive or if she had been taken to Gaza. Some 60 hours after the final contact with Amit, news came that her body had been identified in the dental clinic where she had stood her ground. The weight of the loss reverberated through the community.

Her funeral was attended by two hundred, with 70 of them representing MDA.

Her body came out for burial wrapped in a shroud with the Israeli flag depicted with different coloring. The star and stripes were red and white, representing the colors of MDA. Her mother approached the stretcher and begged her to wake up. Her boyfriend spoke, referring to her as an angel flying in the night sky and said she seemed to be able to make sense out of everything.

Just two days prior to Amit’s burial, the anxious Man family dealt with another blow – the passing of Amit’s uncle who died of lung cancer. Due to rocket fire, a small funeral of ten was pulled together. The cemetery security staff asked the family to do as much as possible outside of the grounds for safety concerns.

Amit’s family says her journey to medicine was inspired by the death of her father. He was diagnosed with lung cancer when Amit was 11 and succumbed to the spread of the deadly disease some four years later. Ophir says Amit, the youngest daughter, was his favorite out of his five girls. She watched him go in and out of the hospital at an impressionable age.

“She bore witness to all his strife and struggle. A year later, she decided she would partake in emergency services,” Ophir said. “And that is what she put her heart and soul into.”

Her family understood her desire to save lives came from her desire to save her dad.

Amit's trajectory to paramedic excellence did not come without its challenges. A medical issue prevented her from joining the IDF, yet she remained undeterred. Volunteering was her way of serving. She enrolled in Sherut Leumi and then moved over to MDA. By age 21, she became the youngest instructor for paramedic services throughout the country, imparting vital skills to 18-year-olds entering the special services.

"She is the epitome of a life saver. She is the best of us," Ophir stated proudly.

During the Hamas attack, Amit displayed exceptional professionalism. Despite the chaos and danger, she communicated the situation accurately and efficiently. Recordings of her calls have been presented to the president, and he has commended her posthumously.

Amit's funeral was a testament to the lives she touched. Hundreds gathered to pay their respects, their hearts heavy with grief and admiration. Amit leaves us with a moving video of herself beautifully singing “The Only Exception” by Paramore. At the very least, her loved ones can be comforted by the sounds of her melody instead of the sounds of her pain.

As Israel grapples with the aftermath of this senseless violence, Amit Man’s legacy stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those on the frontlines of emergency response. In the face of darkness, she shone brightly, illuminating the path of compassion and courage for others to follow.