Following a series of drone raids, the army declared the site of the centre a “red zone” and forced the evacuation of patients. Primate Welby’s complaint: “Healthcare facilities must be protected: international humanitarian law must be respected.” Pope Francis linked the Ukrainian children’s hospital to the school of the Latin Patriarchate in the Strip, which were attacked at the same time: “Deeply shocked by the increase in violence.”
Jerusalem () – At the same time that the world mourns and condemns (rightly) the Russian attack on the pediatric oncology hospital in Kiev, another hospital was forced to close in the Gaza Strip. Indeed, the Israeli army forced the evacuation of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, known as “the hospital of coexistence”, built and supported by the Anglican Church. Already in the early stages of the war, the al-Ahli Arab Hospital was the victim of a very harsh attack that caused a massacre and the loss of innocent lives. Now, a new Israeli army operation in Gaza City has provoked strong words of condemnation from the Anglican primate Justin Welby, who recalls that “according to international humanitarian law” hospitals and clinics “must be protected”. The Archbishop of Canterbury protests “strongly against the forced closure and evacuation” of the center and “the attack on an ambulance”.
The hospital is located in the same area of the Strip where the school of the Latin parish of the Holy Family was also attacked in recent hours. A war wound that Pope Francis today compared to that of the pediatric oncology hospital in Gaza that is making headlines around the world. “The Holy Father – says a statement from the Vatican Press Office – received with great pain the news of the attacks against two medical centers in kyiv, including the largest pediatric hospital in Ukraine, as well as against a school in Gaza. The Pope expresses his deep concern about the escalation of violence. While expressing his closeness to the victims and the innocent wounded, he hopes and prays that concrete ways can soon be identified to put an end to the ongoing conflicts.”
These are the same operations by the Israeli army in Gaza City that led to the closure of al-Ahli Hospital on 7 July and the forced transfer of all patients hospitalised there, after declaring the area around the centre a “red zone”. The decision was taken following a series of drone attacks in the area, as confirmed in a statement released yesterday by the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital.
“In the face of the intense Israeli bombardment, this closure – continues the Anglican primate – puts the wounded and the sick in even greater danger. I join Archbishop Hosam in calling on the Israeli Defence Forces to allow the hospital to continue its sacred and courageous work of caring for people in desperate need. To alleviate the immense suffering in the Holy Land, I continue to pray and call for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and for no restrictions to be placed on aid – he concludes – to the people of Gaza.”
The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem also spoke out against the forced closure, with attention focused on the sick and wounded “in grave danger” now that the centre is “out of service”, at a time when there is great demand and need for hospitals and medical care. “The wounded and sick people – it continues – have few options of places where they can receive urgent medical care.” Archbishop Hosam Naoum joins the protest against the closure “at a time of war and great suffering” when it is “essential” that emergency services “be maintained to care for the wounded and dying”. “We call on the Israeli forces – he concludes – to allow us to continue our sacred ministry of medical care and healing. We ask that attacks against civilians and all vulnerable people cease and call on all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire.”
Founded in 1882, al-Ahli Arab Hospital is located in the northern sector of Gaza City. The war in Gaza affects all aspects of life due to restrictions on the movement of materials and people, such as in these days of war when electricity is lacking and food, water, fuel and medicine are becoming scarce. However, the hospital has always ensured care with its 80 beds and is recognized for its excellence throughout the region. According to the website of the Diocese of Jerusalem, the local branch of the Anglican Communion that runs it, it handled 3,500 outpatient visits per month. The center also provided 300 surgeries and around 600 X-ray consultations per month, in addition to having a free breast cancer screening program for women over 40 years old. The Center for Elderly Women and the mobile clinic program also provided free medical care and food to residents of the surrounding towns and villages. The hospital also sponsored the first training course for doctors in minimally invasive surgery in Gaza and was planning to set up a cancer centre with radiotherapy.
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