Church Leaders Decry Closure of Anglican Hospital in Gaza City
UPDATE: On July 13th, we are hearing reports that the IDF permitted the hospital to re-open..
On July 7th, the Diocese of Jerusalem in the Anglican Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East announced that–amidst heavy fighting in the Old Gaza City area–the Israeli Defense Forces compelled the closure of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which the diocese owns and has operated since 1882.
We protest the closure of our hospital in the strongest possible terms. In a time of warfare and great suffering, it is essential that emergency healthcare services are maintained to treat the injured and the dying. We appeal to the Israeli forces to permit us to continue our sacred ministry of medical care and healing. We plea for an end to the targeting of civilians and all vulnerable people and demand all parties agree to an immediate ceasefire.
Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem
Read the Archbishop’s full statement here.
Messages of solidarity and support came in from across the Anglican Communion:
We stand in solidarity with our Anglican family, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, against the closure and evacuation of this vital diocesan health ministry. This action violates the dignity of already-vulnerable people and is against international humanitarian law. Let us pray particularly for the safety of the hospital’s patients and staff—and those who had been sheltering at the hospital who are now displaced again.
As a church, we again call for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to flow freely to all in need, and we pray for an immediate end to violence against civilian populations.
I also want to encourage Episcopalians to join the Episcopal Public Policy Network to receive updates and action alerts so you may advocate effectively to your elected representatives.
And as the prophet Micah said, may God give all of us the will and the courage to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Hospitals must be protected under international humanitarian law. I stand with my brother Archbishop Hosam Naoum in protesting the closure and evacuation of the Anglican-run Al Ahli hospital in Gaza in the strongest possible terms. And I condemn the attack on an ambulance en route to the hospital. In the face of intense Israeli bombardment, this closure puts injured and sick people in even greater danger. I join Archbishop Hosam’s appeal to the Israel Defence Forces to allow the hospital to continue its sacred and courageous work of caring for people in desperate need. To relieve the immense suffering in the Holy Land, I continue to pray and call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and for unfettered aid for the people of Gaza.
The Most Rev. & Right Hon. Justin P. Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury