UPDATE: 14th March 2024

The Archbishop of Jerusalem has sent this message to those supporting the emergency appeal for the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

“We are grateful for the support of all those who contributed to Anglicans in Development in support of our al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, which has by a miracle of God remained open throughout the war to serve the hundreds of sick and wounded brought through its gates each week. Please continue to pray and advocate on behalf of all those who suffer throughout the Holy Land, even as we seek a just and lasting peace here in the very land where our Lord Jesus Christ took up his cross for our sake.”

The World Health Organization reports that it and its partners recently “completed a mission to Al-Ahli Arab and Al-Sahaba hospitals in northern Gaza yesterday. Both hospitals are functioning with limited capacity, and lack fuel, specialised staff, anaesthetic drugs, antibiotics, and internal fixation devices. We delivered orthopaedic and trauma items for 150 patients and 13,000L of fuel to the Al-Ahli Arab hospital…We need sustained, safe access to health facilities in order to supply them with urgently needed lifesaving healthcare on a regular basis.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has posted this video which also relates to getting supplies to the Al-Ahli hospital: https://twitter.com/i/status/1766755953137897755

Last week Amnesty International reported a spike in killings of Palestinians in the West Bank, including by using lethal force without necessity or disproportionately during protests and arrest raids, and denying medical assistance to those injured. Between 7 October and 31 December 2023, 299 Palestinians were killed, marking a 50% increase compared to the first nine months of the year. At least 61 further Palestinians, including 13 children, have been killed so far in 2024 as of 29 January.

Please continue to pray and advocate in your churches and communities for a cessation to hostilities, with the return of hostages and captives, and a space to emerge for a lasting peace and justice to come about.

Photos are from the WHO showing their recent delivery of vital supplies to the Ahli (and Al-Sahaba) hospitals.

UPDATE: 8th February 2024

The Al-Ahli Hospital is one of the only functioning hospitals in Gaza as other hospitals have been damaged by airstrikes and are affected by the lack of fuel to power their generators.

The Ahli staff continue to implement a 24-hour emergency response plan. To meet the needs of increasing numbers of wounded and traumatized people, including children, the hospital has recruited more medical professionals to help them save the lives of hundreds of patients (though it still faces a shortage of medical supplies and skilled surgeons).

Since the beginning of the crisis, Al-Ahli staff have maintained an around-the-clock presence at the hospital, providing urgent medical care for those physically injured, particularly children who have been traumatized by the violence. In addition, they have received elective cases referred by other hospitals that are overwhelmed with thousands of injured patients. The Burn Care Unit has received hundreds of children with severe burns.

Surgical and orthopaedic supplies, food, and water are the most urgent needs. Beds and stretchers are also in short supply. Generators are only being used for sterilization procedures, which require greater wattage. This is draining the fuel capacity.

But the conflict in Gaza is also having a spillover effect in the West Bank.

In addition to the terrible and ongoing loss of life and damage to core infrastructure in Gaza, the shock to Palestinian economic activity has been severe. This is because of the war escalating to parts of the West Bank, where there are persistent clashes and restrictions on the movement of people and goods coming in and out. Therefore, up to 25% of funds raised for this appeal will go to addressing needs in the West Bank (with at least 75% going to needs in Gaza).

An estimated 40 percent of West Bank jobs have been lost since last October due to impacts of loss of tourism, cancelation of employment of Palestinians working in Israel, and non-payment of salaries to Palestinians due to international sanctions and the ending of Israeli support.

These families are no longer able to cover the cost of their basic needs, including health care and the school tuition fees of their children.

Additionally, St Luke’s Hospital in Nablus has started to receive injured and traumatised patients from conflict in the north, including Nablus, Tulkarem and Jenin.

UPDATE: 20th December 2023

The conflict in Gaza is having a spillover effect in the West Bank. Restrictions on movement between Israel and the West Bank have led to many job losses. Some bank transfers are also being blocked. Tourism-dependent businesses in the West Bank, including many hotels and restaurants, have closed and many other industries are experiencing supply chain disruptions. As joblessness and poverty rise, the Diocese of Jerusalem is called upon to assist through the health services and education institutions that it operates in the West Bank.

At the same time, AID’s relief assistance to Al Ahli hospital in Gaza has been forcibly delayed because the hospital is having difficulty accessing further supplies. AID is therefore widening its Gaza appeal to allocate a portion of funds to address needs in the West Bank.

The Diocesan response in the West Bank will cover the cost of the health services and education for the most vulnerable people who have been directly affected by the current situation and who are not able to cover the cost of the health services and tuition fees of their children at the Diocese institutions.

UPDATE: 14th December 2023

The WHO has reported on their recent experiences of making a humanitarian foray to deliver supplies to the Al-Ahli Hospital.

“Amid sky-high humanitarian needs in Gaza’s devastated north, Al-Ahli Hospital is severely short-staffed, Dr. Peeperkorn said, with over 200 patients but only enough resources to support 40. Unable to perform vascular operations, staff are carrying out limb amputations ‘as the last resort to save lives’.

Last Saturday a WHO-led UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) convoy encountered “serious incidents” during a mission to deliver trauma and surgical supplies for 1,500 patients to the hospital and transfer 19 critical patients and their companions to Nasser Medical Complex in south Gaza, the UN health agency said.

Dr. Peeperkorn described the numerous obstacles faced by this mission, including inspections at the Israeli military checkpoint at Wadi Gaza on the way north, where two PRCS staff were detained for over an hour. According to a statement released by the UN health agency on Tuesday, “WHO staff saw one of them being made to kneel at gunpoint and then taken out of sight, where he was reportedly harassed, beaten, stripped and searched”.

The WHO medic stressed that “nobody can be detained when they are part of a medical mission” and emphasized the fact that such vital humanitarian missions “cannot afford any delays”.

Dr. Peeperkorn said that arriving in north Gaza, which now “looks like a wasteland”, the humanitarians saw many people in the street surprised at the sight of the convoy, as there had been very little aid access to the north of the enclave for months now.

WHO has reiterated its call for the protection of health care and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Please continue to keep all people affected by this terrible war in your prayers.

You can read the whole story here:
‘Humanitarian disaster zone’: Gaza hospital capacity decimated – WHO | UN News

UPDATE: 4th December 2023

As the week-long ceasefire has ended and bombardment of Gaza resumes, we pray urgently for all people in Gaza, especially those who have lost loved ones, the wounded, and the traumatised, especially the children.

After about two weeks where the medical staff could only perform first aid, because out of surgical supplies, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza is again open to serve the wounded in Gaza City.

During the ceasefire, deliveries of fuel, anaesthesia, ICU supplies, emergency drugs and IV fluids were made to the hospital, supervised by the WHO.

The hospital is the only one functioning in northern Gaza, and a huge overflow of patients is being held in the hospital’s St Philip’s Chapel. Most patients need more advance care and surgical intervention.

Doctors and nurses have responded to Al-Ahli’s calls for help, but they still need more vascular, neuro- and orthopaedic surgeons, and more drugs and medical supplies.

The Diocese and Al-Ahli are working with the United Nations, WHO and Red Cross/Red Crescent to address urgent needs.

As we continue to pray for the situation in Gaza, the Diocese of Jerusalem has asked also for prayers for those in East Jerusalem affected by soaring unemployment, food shortages and neighbourhood attacks as some settlers try to push out Palestinians from their homes.

To assist with our prayers, Archbishop Hosam has made available a set of Advent Reflections for “our beloved partners in the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.  We encourage you to engage with these reflections during Advent.

UPDATE: 16th November 2023

The Diocese of Jerusalem has reported that Al-Ahli Arab Hospital is now the only functioning hospital in the north of Gaza. Other hospitals are not functioning due to lack of fuel and the damage caused by the airstrikes. The Ahli staff continue to provide 24-hour emergency response for the increasing number of wounded and traumatized people. They appealed for health professionals living nearby to join the staff in working to save the lives of hundreds of patients.

Each day, the Ahli is treating around 200 to 250 wounded, and performing up to 10 surgical operations, mostly in orthopaedics and plastic surgery.

Whilst mainly relying on solar energy, the Ahli’s generators are being used for sterilization procedures, which require greater wattage. This is draining the fuel capacity, which is at a level that may last as little as three weeks, depending on usage.

The banks in Gaza are operating, and so funds can be transferred for hospital staff salaries and the purchase of supplies.
Since the war began, the hospital has been able to procure three deliveries of medicines and medical supplies from Red Cross/Red Crescent and UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees).

Click this link to read the full update from the Diocese of Jerusalem. 

We ask you to continue to pray for:

• the people of Gaza
• the hospital staff
• all who are affected by this conflict in other parts of Palestine and Israel.
• an immediate ceasefire
• a just and lasting peace.

UPDATE: 24th October 2023

Ahli Hospital continues to provide urgent care for injured and all who need medical attention

Thank you to all who have generously given to our appeal for the Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Your gifts are much needed and greatly appreciated. AID has already sent the first tranche of funds to our partner, the Diocese of Jerusalem, but much, much more is needed.

The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Reverend Hosam Naoum, has today issued a statement jointly with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justine Welby.

Archbishop Hosam writes: “As you have probably seen, a massive rocket blast exploded in the midst of our own Ahli Hospital in the heart of Gaza City, tragically killing or seriously wounding hundreds of refugees who had gathered there because they had no other place of shelter in which to go.

“Although the Ahli’s buildings were heavily damaged, two nights later our devoted staff partially re-opened the hospital. In doing this, they demonstrated the determination we have in the Diocese of Jerusalem to persevere in our Christian mission to serve others as though we were serving Christ himself (Matt 25:31-46). And this is the case not just for Gaza, but throughout all the Holy Land. Yet in order to accomplish this mission in the midst of a devastating war, we need to draw upon the strength of the larger Body of Christ. For we understand that when one member of the Body suffers, all parts suffer (1 Cor 12:26).

“And so, my sisters and brothers in Christ, I appeal to you first of all to pray for our mission here, as well for the peace of Jerusalem (Psa 122:6). Secondly, advocate with your representatives for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, so that all who dwell within these lands can live in security. Finally, if you are able, support our ministries in Gaza, Palestine and Israel, and throughout the diocese of Jerusalem by contributing financially through one of our international partners.”

Archbishop Justin’s statement concludes with the words: “I urge everyone, if they are able, to support the Al Ahli Hospital’s work caring for the wounded body of Jesus Christ and contribute to the Gaza appeal.”

Although food, medicines and water are still in very short supply, limited aid has now begun to filter in through the southern Gazan border at Rafah.

The Ahli Hospital, which is partly powered by solar energy, is still functioning and staff are providing medical and surgical services to people in greatest need.

Your donation to this appeal will contribute to the following areas.

• Urgent Medicines: $55,000
• Medical Consumables: $40,000
• ICU Equipment: $32,000
• Fuel (10,000 Litres): $27,000
• Extra staff: $47,000
• Psychosocial Support for Patients and their families: $24,000
• Food for patients, staff and their families: $21,000
• Hygiene kits: $90 each

UPDATE: 19th October 2023

Australian Anglican Primate calls for protection of civilians in Gaza

The following is a statement issued by Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, on the war in Israel/Palestine.

Please click here to view the statement.

Devastating news. Hundreds killed in strike on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

Having already dealt with being hit by rockets on Saturday evening leaving four people injured, we are now deeply saddened to learn of a fatal strike on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital. Initial estimates suggest the death toll is at least 200 people, but possibly more than 500 people have been killed.

The hospital has recently served as a shelter for thousands of residents who fled their homes in northern Gaza seeking safety from Israeli airstrikes. Stranded residents are running out of medicine, food, water and power.

We ask you to join with us in prayer. We pray for an immediate ceasefire and for a resolution of the longer-term conflict that has caused so much suffering. We pray for the staff who continue to serve those in need despite danger to their own lives. We pray for all those who mourn.

The Archbishop in Jerusalem has called for a day of mourning. We now share with you the official statement. Please click here to view.

We will continue to put post updates here as we receive them.