Al Ahli Hospital has been a beacon of light amid the devastation in Gaza, with dedicated medical staff serving patients in great need – despite severe shortages of medicine and equipment. As a fragile ceasefire is hoped to take hold, its role will continue to be pivotal as it responds to an enormous volume of medical needs. In this blog, we take a look back at the steadfast service at Al Ahli’s hospital and clinic over the past 15 months:

Although hospitals are protected under International Humanitarian Law, it has been hit by strikes several times, most recently by an IDF strike on 29 December 2024. Earlier in the year, part of the front wall of the hospital was destroyed by an IDF tank when the hospital was raided and many of the staff rounded up for interrogation, which left patients at the hospital without medical care. Although the staff were subsequently released, they were released in south Gaza and most were unable to make their way back to Al Ahli Hospital.

Despite the risks, the dedicated medical staff who remain in the north have continued to serve. Today it is one of the few hospitals in northern Gaza that is still functioning. It is working at over double its intended capacity and treating around 300-500 emergency cases a day, even though the Israeli authorities’ restrictions on aid convoys getting into northern Gaza mean they are constantly short of medicines and equipment.

Embrace funds help to pay the salaries of the staff and your generous donations have meant that, alongside the hospital, we’ve been able to support Al Ahli’s clinic in the south too. This was initially set up in Rafah, but following the IDF invasion of Rafah in May, staff were forced to relocate the clinic to Khan Younis, and then to Al Mawasi.

Al Ahli’s clinic in Al Mawasi treats over 60 cases a day

Al Mawasi is designated as a humanitarian safe zone by the IDF (although there have been a significant number of airstrikes), so the neighbourhood is crowded with displaced families hoping to find safety. Over 400,000 are estimated to be living there, forced to live in tents, without enough food or clean water. In an area far too small and with no facilities, ill health and disease are rife.

The clinic’s Dr Salem told us that they see many diseases caused by the unsanitary conditions:

‘We receive around 60-70 cases daily, including gastrointestinal and skin diseases. One of the most common we encounter daily is Hepatitis A, along with cases of acute intestinal flu, viral chest infections and skin diseases, including scabies.’

Providing psychological support for traumatised children

The clinic’s psychological support programme has become increasingly important, helping children process the horrors that they have witnessed and the trauma they’re living through. It’s an intensive course of five sessions held over consecutive days. Each session focusses on a particular psychological pressure and techniques that can be used to help. Nevine, co-ordinator of the psychological support programme told us:

 ‘The psychological support programme aims to foster self-development and acquire skills to overcome difficulties and psychological pressures resulting from the war on the Gaza strip. It also focusses on expressing emotions and the ability to solve problems and life challenges.’

Dana is one of the children who has benefitted:

‘I joined the psychological support programme to address my difficulty sleeping, my stress and anxiety. My mother was martyred and I started experiencing these symptoms. Since enrolling on the programme, I’ve made significant improvements; I now sleep better, and no longer feel anxiety or fear.’  

Continuing to serve amid horrendous conditions

Mohammad Al Naqa, director of the clinic, summed up what it is like, not only for the staff of Al Ahli, but all our partners working in Gaza today:

‘The medical staff and psychological support team are working under extremely challenging conditions. They face numerous difficulties, including severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, which complicate our efforts to provide services to the people at this medical point. In the summer, we worked in extreme heat and without electricity, relying on minimal fans in the clinic to alleviate the conditions for our patients.

‘Additionally, there is a critical lack of clean drinking water, and even water for basic hygiene. The area is densely populated, which exacerbates the spread of epidemics… Unfortunately, we are sometimes unable to provide full treatments under these conditions. 

‘Despite these significant challenges, Al Ahli hospital team is determined to provide care and bring smiles to the faces of our children, even in these dire circumstances, to bring hope to the hearts of our people.’

The summer heat has now turned to winter rain and cold and flooding has affected Al Mawasi in recent weeks.

At time of writing, news of a ceasefire deal in Gaza has been announced. This fragile possibility offers a glimmer of hope amid the devastation. Please join us in praying that this ceasefire comes to fruition and endures.