A baby girl was pulled from the rubble of a residential building hit during Saturday's Iranian missile barrage on central Israel. Police officer Aviv Saranga described the dramatic moments of the rescue shortly afterward.
"In the early morning hours, we received multiple reports indicating a direct hit on one of the city streets," Saranga said. "When we arrived, we saw massive destruction, homes, vehicles, and were informed by neighbors and passersby that there were people trapped inside."
Working alongside police units, paramedics and firefighters, the rescue teams began extricating the trapped residents. Among them was an infant just a few months old.
"I held the baby for quite some time," Saranga recounted. "We also rescued her family, her parents. I brought the baby to them immediately. The parents were also trapped and required medical treatment. The baby stayed in my arms until the medical care for the parents was completed."
Fire and Rescue Services commander Idan Chen, a father of four, was visibly emotional. "I'm a father to four children. Children are everything to me. You think about that, and your eyes well up with tears. It's like being in a delivery room and touching the baby for the first time."
Saranga concluded: "I feel a deep sense of purpose, without a doubt, it's a calling. The satisfaction of rescuing a baby, knowing she made it out alive, there's nothing more fulfilling. I'm proud to have been part of this."
