The only Christian hospital in Gaza again attacked, this time by fire

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The Anglican Communion News Service reports on the most recent attack on the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. On August 17, a "local outlaw band" set fire to the hospital, once again risking the hospital's ability to serve the Gazan people, under severe attack in the war that began in October 2023.

The Al Ahli Hospital is the only Christian hospital in Gaza and is operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. The Archbishop of Jerusalem, Rt. Rev. Hosam Naoum, issued this statement:

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.

Read Archbishop Naoum's full statement.

The Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Michael Jackson wrote:

Such an attack on a place of sanctuary for those who are ill and injured is an affront to human dignity for everyone who holds with the sacredness of life. We stand in prayerful solidarity with those who work in the hospital and those who seek treatment there. Need and compassion connect us across the world.

Read the archbishop's full statement.

The story was also covered by the Episcopal News Service.

Related to this story, Jonathan Kuttab, a Palestinian attorney known to the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, urges the development of a new theological vocabulary for the way Christians speak of the Holy Land, its inhabitants and its conflicts. Joining with Rev. Munther Isaac, this call rejects traditional evangelical and dispensationalist vocabulary that leads to theological bias. Read his post on FOSNA.