TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Cory Harow, who is a Florida-based emergency medicine physician, has decided to extend his stay in Israel.

He was enjoying his vacation with his loved ones when suddenly the war broke out between Israel and Hamas, starting with the October 7, surprise attack by Hamas militants. Harow decided to stay and help wounded people.

“As an emergency physician, my entire professional life has been about a sense of a duty to preserve life to the best of my ability,” he said.

Cory Harow was ready for the challenge

The medical director of the emergency department at West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton, Florida, said, “This is an extension of that in a different context, in a different language, but still just as essential.”

Harow opened up about the October 7 horror. “We went outside to the hallway in our socks and pajamas like all the other guests,” he told People.

He looked outside the windows of the hotel gym and a TV report about a strike on Israel’s southern border, the sight where his family was a few days ago.

“It was terrifying,” his wife Rachel said, adding “It was scary and sad and heartbreaking.”

The news that Israel has declared war in response to the attack was shared by the commander of his IDF Reserve unit. He was told to pack his bags and be ready.

“There was a day of uncertainty, as the news trickled in,” Harows said, adding “We were hearing about Hamas mowing down hundreds of teenagers at a peace concert, kidnapping whole families, and massacring entire communities.”

Cory Harow's wife Rachel praises his commitment

The next morning Rachel told Cory to stay safe and that she loved him. “It was really difficult not to get caught up in all the disbelief and pain,” Rachel shared.

“Cory is a huge force of strength and optimism in our family. He always is the one to keep us from getting overwhelmed by negativity or fear. So with everything that's going on, and what we were reading, and what we were seeing, and what we were hearing, leaving him and separating from him was difficult, scary, and overwhelming,” she added.

Cory left for a military base and Rachel flew home with three of their four children.

Rachel added, “We are so proud. Cory's there to help protect and heal those who are protecting the people of Israel. He's sacrificing a lot because he feels like it's the right thing to do to show his support and be there to help.”