Anglican provinces and humanitarian organisations have shared messages of solidarity and peace in the wake of the Palm Sunday air strike on al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.
In the early hours of Sunday, April 13th, an air strike destroyed part of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City.
Reports suggest that a call to evacuate civilians, patients and other displaced people was phoned through 20 minutes prior to the air strike, which destroyed much of the hospital’s infrastructure, a new genetic laboratory and other departments including St Phillips chapel.
While no casualties have been reported from the attack, a child has died from pre-existing head injuries in the course of the disruption to care.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have acknowledged the missile strike, saying the hospital was targeted because they believed “the compound was used by Hamas terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.”
Responding to the messages of solidarity, Suhaila Tarazi - Director of al-Ahli Hospital said:
"Thank you for your heartfelt messages and unwavering support during this challenging time... Despite the destruction, our dedicated team is working tirelessly to restore essential services and continue providing care to the community. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, al-Ahli remains a vital lifeline for Gaza City and the northern region, and we are committed to maintaining our operations to the best of our abilities. Your solidarity, prayers , heartfelt thoughts and kind words are a source of strength for all of us here. We deeply appreciate your concern and support."
Anglican Responses to strike on the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Diocese of Jerusalem, condemned the attacks in a statement calling for “people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions” and praying for “the end of this horrific war and the suffering of so many”.
Read the statement here.
The Archbishop of York, from the Church of England
The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, issued a statement saying that “For the only Christian hospital in Gaza to be attacked on Palm Sunday is especially appalling.” He shared his sense of grief in the wake of this “devastating violence” and reflected that at “the start of Holy Week, I join the cries of Christians around the world for an end to this violence – and for justice, security, dignity and peace for Palestinians and Israelis.”
Read the statement here.
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, sent a letter to the Episopcal Church that said “No matter how we understand the causes of violence in the Holy Land, we can surely agree that we must support our fellow Anglicans in alleviating the devastating humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Gaza.”
He went on to urge the people of God in the Episcopal church to pray for the staff of al-Ahli Hospital and the displaced patients who are in “pain and danger without lifesaving care” and also to give generously to the Good Friday Offering, which supports ministries in the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Read the letter here.
The Most Reverend Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin
The Most Reverend Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, says his reaction to the event on Palm Sunday was one of “devastation” and recounts stories of his time visiting the hospital in 2018.
See the Video here.
The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church stated they were "appalled and deeply saddened" by the bombing. Their statement referred to "... a long history of supporting the life and work of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and its work with the whole community in the Holy Land, including the remarkable ministry of the hospital as it continued to work throughout the recent turmoil in Gaza.
Condemning the forced evacuation and air strikes, the statement also calls upon the international community "to bring pressure to bear on the government of Israel to cease attacks on humanitarian institutions. The reducing of hospitals to rubble and the suffering of vulnerable people cannot bring about peace or justice for people of Palestine and Israel. It will only destroy hope and deepen hatred."
Read the statement here.
Humanitarian and Health Agency Responses
Joel Kelling, the Anglican Alliance’s facilitator for the Middle East writes, “This was the news I have been dreading waking up to ever since the ceasefire was broken on 18th March. The destruction wrought to a house of healing in the middle of the night should be unimaginable, and yet it is the awful reality that we face. I pray for the patients and health workers providing street-side care, and the quick resumption of life-saving care giving inside al-Ahli as soon as possible”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), stated that the hospital was “out of service” following the evacuation order and attack. He reported that “The emergency room, laboratory, emergency room x-ray machines and the pharmacy where destroyed.” He also explained that 50 patients had to be moved to other hospitals and 40 critical patients could not be moved. He called for a ceasefire and for hospitals to be protected, stating that “The aid blockade must be lifted.”
Regarding the supply of medical supplies and services in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA) recently reported that because of the restrictions on humanitarian aid getting to Gaza, the “partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.”
With the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City now unable to continue receiving emergency patients, pending repairs, and the pharmacy damaged, this will surely put more pressure on the already struggling healthcare system.
For more information
The Anglican Alliance has more information about how Anglican agencies and partners are responding. Find out more.