Church statement after attacks on Anglican hospital in Gaza

Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza

Embrace the East state: "On Sunday, the Al Ahli Hospital, in Gaza suffered multiple attacks from local outlaw bands and from an IDF drone attack. We join with the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning these attacks and calling for all parties to respect the protection granted to hospitals under International Humanitarian Law.

The devastation of the war and the resulting humanitarian crisis has fueled the rise of armed groups within Gaza, increasing the dangers faced by our partners on a day to day basis. We pray for the safety and protection of their staff as they continue to courageously serve all of those who are in need of care. Below is a statement from the Diocese of Jerusalem in response to the attacks:"

'...on Sunday, August 17th at 12.15am, armed members of a local outlaw band entered the grounds of our Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, demanding the treatment of one of their wounded gunmen. The medical staff readily complied and treated him promptly and with full respect, as they do with all their patients. Despite this, after doctors discharged him in good health, members of the band proceeded to set on fire the hospital morgue and staff prayer room, meanwhile blocking the hospital entrance to prevent firefighters from entering to extinguish the blaze.

As a result, the fire came dangerously close to tents currently serving as the hospital's emergency department, forcing terrified doctors and nurses to quickly evacuate their equally alarmed patients. Although the outlaws' leader subsequently arrived and intervened so that the fire could be extinguished, the two aforementioned sections of the hospital were left severely damaged.

Once members of this first band all departed and the staff settled-in to resume normal operations, a second group of outlaws stormed into the hospital campus. Its members then began shooting into the air and shouting wildly for the next two hours. This attracted the attention of an ID drone. Without its operator giving due warning to the staff, the drone fired suddenly into the hospital compound, killing seven and severely wounding five.

As the owner and manager of this, the oldest and only Christian hospital in Gaza, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemns these multiple attacks and calls upon all parties to cease from making this sacred place of healing into a battleground, contrary to Articles 18 and 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Moreover, we implore the Occupying Power to fulfill its duty of protecting ours and other medical facilities in Gaza, as mandated under Article 56 of that same treaty.

We would like to thank the heads of the local clans and tribes who, later in the day, paid solidarity visits to the hospital, condemning the above acts. As a similar display of solidarity, we invite Christians and all people of goodwill around the world to pray and advocate on behalf of the courageous staff of our hospital - and, indeed, those of all such institutions in the combat zone - that they may continue, without further assaults or disruptions, Christ's compassionate healing ministry in the very homeland in which our Lord himself served during His earthly life.

May God have mercy on us all.

The Cathedral Church of Saint George the Martyr | Nablus Road 65, Jerusalem'

In April this year the Al Ahli Arab Hospital suffered an attack by Israeli missiles. See: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/52148