Embrace Partner Updates

LATEST UPDATES 27 MAY

An update on Gaza’s Christian community

Our partner, the Pontifical Mission, sent us the following news about the Christian community in Gaza:

“As of May 2025, many [members of Gaza’s Christian community] have sought refuge in other parts of Gaza or attempted to migrate to other countries, though various obstacles have made it hard to leave.

St Porphyrius Church: Approximately 150 people are currently sheltering at St Porphyrius Church. Once a refuge for around 90 families, the church now hosts only about 60, as overcrowding and the lack of essential supplies have forced some to return to their partially damaged homes. Space is limited and food aid is scarce – distributions occur irregularly and in very small quantities. Bread production has halted entirely due to the complete absence of flour in local markets, and communal meals are no longer possible, leaving individuals to prepare food under difficult conditions.

Despite these challenges, the church continues to provide critical support to both those sheltering within and to vulnerable families in the surrounding area. For children, small-scale recreational activities offer a brief respite from the ongoing trauma, though these efforts are constrained by the severe shortage of resources.

Holy Family Church: The situation at Holy Family Church is equally dire. Approximately 140 families – around 400 people – are currently living within its walls. Over 100 individuals have chosen to return to their partially damaged homes due to severe overcrowding and a shortage of essential supplies. Humanitarian aid is only distributed twice a month, and even then, it is in very limited amounts. Despite these challenges, the church remains committed to supporting the community. It provides vital psychosocial support to children through structured programmes and has set up a small school and kindergarten to ensure some continuity in education during this crisis.”

23 MAY

An update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza

A shelter has been erected in the grounds of Al Ahli Hospital to replace the outpatient building destroyed in the Israeli airstrike on Palm Sunday. It will allow the hospital to treat more cases and injuries. The hospital is still receiving hundreds of admissions and performing around 24 surgeries a day.

19 MAY

Airstrikes hit near medical points in Gaza

Today we received the following update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem:

“Caritas Jerusalem confirms that two airstrikes struck areas near our medical points in Al-Birkeh and Abu Oureif in Deir Al Balah, Gaza, late last Saturday. These locations are part of our ongoing efforts to provide primary health care support to communities in urgent need. Fortunately, the airstrikes occurred at night, and no members of our medical team or civilians were harmed.

“We are now reassessing the positioning of our medical points to ensure they remain outside high-risk zones. While our commitment to providing life-saving care in Gaza remains unwavering, we are taking additional precautions to safeguard our staff and beneficiaries.”

16 MAY

15 MAY

An Update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza

Since the airstrike on Al Ahli Hospital on Palm Sunday, the staff there have been working to repair the damage and get the hospital fully open once again. Currently, the ICU and operating theatre are functional and the hospital is able to admit and treat in-patients. However, out-patient treatment is limited as the strike cause extensive damage to the out-patient clinic (along with the emergency department and laboratories). The repairs are complicated due to the lack of available construction materials (no materials are allowed into Gaza because of Israel’s aid blockade). They are recycling what they can from the rubble, but moving it is a challenge without heavy equipment.

7 MAY

Embrace’s CEO, Jamie Eyre, and Director of Programmes, Partnerships and Advocacy, Dr Ruth Valerio, have been in the West Bank this week, visiting our partners there and hearing updates on what’s happening in Gaza. Yesterday, Ruth spoke to UCB Radio about what they have witnessed and about Israel’s newly announced plans for Gaza. Listen to her interview below:

3 MAY

This week we heard first-hand from our partners working in Gaza that people are on the brink of starvation and water and medicines are running out. After two months of Israel’s blockade of Gaza - preventing the entry of all aid, food, fuel and medicines – we at Embrace the Middle East echo the statement from the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We urgently call on the international community to respond and ensure Israel lifts the blockade now and allows access to goods. 

17 April

An Easter message from our Palestinian partners

Today our partner DSPR (Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees), whose work in Gaza and the West Bank we’ve been supporting throughout this current conflict, sent us this Easter message:

“As we mark this sacred Easter season, we are reminded of the profound message at the heart of the resurrection: that even in the shadow of the cross, life triumphs over death, hope rises through despair and love endures beyond all suffering…Amidst grief, displacement, and fear, the message of the risen Christ becomes even more powerful, a light that refuses to be overcome by darkness.

As a Christian ecumenical organisation working in Gaza, we have witnessed both the pain and the extraordinary resilience of those who continue to cling to faith, compassion, and hope. We honour their courage, and we remain committed to standing with them, bringing practical support, spiritual encouragement, and the reassurance that they are not forgotten.

We are deeply grateful for you our partners for the genuine partnership, prayers and the continuous solidarity and support. May this Easter renew our shared mission to be instruments of peace and healing in a broken world...”

16 April

WHO video of damage to Al Ahli Hospital

Staff from the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited our partner Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza, following Israel’s Palm Sunday airstrikes to assess the damage. They took this video:

14 April

Updates from our partners in Gaza, following Israeli airstrike on Al Ahli Hospital

Our partner the Princess Basma Centre have confirmed that thankfully all their staff at Al Ahli Hospital are safe and that (unlike other parts of the hospital) their disability unit there was only slightly damaged in the strikes. They are hopefully of being able to reopen it soon:

‘Today our team are fixing, cleaning and preparing the unit once again to receive patients, so the work, needs and challenges go on.' 

Debris from yesterday’s airstrike reached as far as St Porphyrius Church, where the Christian community still sheltering there were preparing for their Palm Sunday service. They have ask for our prayers, saying:

‘During these special moments in the history of the Palestinian People, and these holy days of prayer during the Holy Week celebrated by all the Christian denominations together, we pray for mercy, we pray for peace, we pray for the resurrection of the human conscience, so that this savagery may come to an end before we forget what it really means to be human beings and the term “mercy” and “compassion” become empty words.’

13 April

Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza bombed by Israel

This Palm Sunday, we are devastated at the news of the bombing of Al Ahli hospital. Al Ahli is an Embrace partner and one of Gaza City’s last functioning hospitals. We join the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning this attack, calling for an urgent end to the war and the protection of all medical & faith-based institutions.

This morning, our team contacted the Medical Director at Al Ahli Hospital to share our support and prayers. This was his message of thanks for safety of the staff and patients and a prayer for peace:

Good morning from Gaza.
We are sorry for the hospital attacks early morning of the Palm Sunday. Our Lord was very great  keeping all  of our patients and employees safe.
Praying for ceasefire, and peace for all.
God  bless 🙏

Please join with us in praying with him:

“Out of the depths have I cried unto you. O Lord hear my voice.”

Loving God, you call us to mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep.

As we stand with our friends at the Al Ahli Hospital, hear our prayers for an end to this senseless violence. Give us the courage and the will to speak up for the defenceless. Remind us that every human being is made in your image.

We pray for those with the power to stop this madness. Give them the vision to imagine new possibilities, where hardened hearts are opened to goodness, love and grace.

We pray for the team at Al Ahli, Archbishop Hosam, and the Diocese of Jerusalem. Surround them with your love, give them your strength and fill them with your wisdom.

We ask all this in the name of the one who suffered, died and rose again.

Amen

Statement from the Diocese of Jerusalem in response to Israel’s bombing of Al Ahli Hospital

“The Diocese of Jerusalem condemns in the strongest terms today’s missile attacks on the Ahli Arab Hospital, an institution run by the Anglican Church in Jerusalem. The twin strikes demolished the two-storey Genetic Laboratory and damaged the Pharmacy and the Emergency Department buildings. It also resulted in other collateral damage to the surrounding buildings, including the church building of St. Philip’s.

“A mere twenty minutes prior to the attack, the Israeli army ordered all patients, employees, and displaced people to immediately evacuate the hospital premises prior to its bombing. We thank God that there were no injuries or deaths as a result of the bombing. However, one child who previously suffered a head-injury tragically died as a result of the rushed evacuation process.

“The Diocese of Jerusalem is appalled at the bombing of the hospital now for the fifth time since the beginning of the war in 2023 — and this time on the morning of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. We call upon all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions. We pray and call for the end of this horrific war and the suffering of so many.”

4 APRIL

An Update from Gaza

Our partner Caritas Jerusalem provide primary healthcare and mental health support in Gaza. During the ceasefire, their staff (numbering over 100) were able to expand services into areas they had been unable to access during the fighting and they now have 10 medical points across the Gaza strip. As most of the hospitals remain either out of action or only functioning at very limited capacity, these medical points are providing a vital lifeline.

However, the renewed airstrikes and blockade imposed by Israel has caused the situation to rapidly deteriorate again. At times, Caritas Jerusalem have been forced to pause their work for fears over staff safety and there are shortages of vital supplies. As Israel continues to block aid from entering the country it is having catastrophic consequences on a population already living in the worst of situations. 

More land confiscations and travel restrictions in the West Bank

Today we received this update from our partner Anar, based in Bethlehem, which runs a range of projects supporting Palestinian children and young adults:

“In the West Bank alone, where Anar’s work is concentrated, over 40,000+ Palestinians have now been forcibly displaced by the Israeli military and settler violence. Every day, we witness more land confiscations. Access restrictions have intensified, with prolonged delays at checkpoints and new road gates and blocks installed. Bethlehem alone has 89 gates in and around it. The danger of travel is so significant that many Palestinian people can’t risk visiting their families in neighboring towns for many weeks.”

26 MARCH

VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN THE WEST BANK

Our partner the Pontifical Mission for Palestine gave us this report on the situation in the West Bank:

“In the northern districts of the West Bank, military attacks on Palestinian refugee camps and arresting people without trial is taking place on a daily basis. However, after October 7, 2023, and in recent months, Israeli military forces have been demolishing infrastructure throughout the West Bank including roads, homes and buildings, which displaced tens of thousands of people from Jenin, Tulkarem and Ein Shams refugee camps. Moreover, settler violence has reached unprecedented levels in Area C of the West Bank… All the current policies have all but shut down the tourism sector that is strangling the Palestinian economy, especially in Bethlehem.“

24 MARCH

SITUATION IN GAZA CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE

This morning, our partner the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, sent us this update:

“For over three weeks now, Israel has shut all crossings, including Rafah on the Egyptian side, preventing any humanitarian supplies from reaching Gaza. With the crossings shut, there is no food, water, fuel, medicine or medical supplies…People need water and electricity. However, water tanks that could be put on the rooftop and filled with desalinated water, are unavailable in Gaza. Electricity generators are unavailable…[and] fuel to run them is scarce.”

18 MARCH

PARTNERS IN GAZA FORCED TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AMID AIRSRIKES

The renewal of Israeli Defence Forces airstrikes in Gaza have reported led to over 400 deaths. They are also having a huge impact on the ability of our partners to continue to provide vital humanitarian aid. Our partner Caritas Jerusalem sent us this update this morning:

“The attacks come amid a full blockade of aid and the continued closure of the Rafah crossing since March 2, raising fears of mass starvation.

Caritas Jerusalem has suspended all operations in Gaza, including staff movement and medical centre rehabilitation efforts, for safety reasons. Currently, 100 CJ staff members remain in Gaza, operating across 10 medical points.

With Gaza on the brink, Caritas Jerusalem continues to monitor the crisis, determined to resume life-saving services as soon as possible.

We plead for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed before more innocent lives are lost.”

A PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO THE RENEWED AIRSTRIKES

We watch with dismay and anguish as the violence resumes in Gaza. Please join us in prayer:
Lord God,

We watch with dismay and anguish as the violence resumes in Gaza.

We pray for the people of Gaza: for those directly impacted by last night’s strikes and those now living in fear of what comes next.

We pray for the hostages, for their safety and that they will be released.

We pray for negotiators and those with political influence: give them compassion and restraint, and lead them in the paths of peace, not war.

Be close to our partners and give them strength as they continue to serve and help those in desperate need. In the name of the Prince of Peace.

Amen.

10 MARCH

7 MARCH

Children return to the classrooms in Lebanon - but carry traumatic memories of the war

The neighbourhood in which our partner Tahaddi runs an education centre was particularly badly affected by the Israeli airstrikes during the war. Most of the residents fled the area and so Tahaddi moved their education support online (teaching mainly WhatsApp messages). Now, thankfully the children have been able to return to the classrooms, but all have been psychologically affected by the war. Tahaddi has been helping the children process their experiences:

‘Each child had the chance to express the trauma they experienced during the war through an exercise led by our psychologist, who visited every classroom to facilitate support sessions. To symbolise their fears and sorrows, they chose a heavy stone; to represent what gave them strength, they picked up a feather. [One child told us] “The sound of bombs, the fear in my parents’ eyes, the hurried escape, leaving our blankets on the roadside …that was heavy”.

6 MARCH

Update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza

Dr Maher, Medical Director at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, explains what it's been like at the hospital since the ceasefire.

4 MARCH

Thousands of people displaced in West Bank

Since the beginning of the year, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly, particularly in the Jenin Governorate, where Israel’s military has been conducting a major military operation, called Iron Wall, which it launched immediately after the ceasefire in Gaza was announced.

Our partner Caritas Jerusalem told us that over 40,000 have been displaced and the increasing IDF check points have made travel in and out of Jenin extremely difficult for their staff:

Since the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including Jenin, the humanitarian crisis has worsened. The Israeli military's operations, including airstrikes, sieges, and movement restrictions, have led to mass displacement and increased food insecurity, leaving thousands without access to essential services. The rise in settler violence and systematic blockages of aid is exacerbating an already dire situation. Despite these challenges, organizations like Caritas Jerusalem are tirelessly working to help displaced families live with dignity and hope for the future.

Embrace continues to support a psychological first aid programme in the West Bank, run by the East Jerusalem YMCA, which provides immediate mental health support for those who have been impacted by the violence.

3 MARCH

Amid disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, and Israel now blocking entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, please join us in praying for peace:

God of peace,

We pray for the continued ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Guide the negotiators and those with influence in the paths of peace and justice.

We pray for the release of all remaining hostages and unfettered access to vital, lifesaving aid for Gaza. May people on both sides be treated with dignity and respect, and not as bargaining tools.

Surround all those living in fear and uncertainty with your protection. We pray that compassion, peace and justice will prevail.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

25 FEBRUARY

Israeli operations escalating in the West Bank

Israeli military operations are continuing to increase in the West Bank, particularly in the Jenin Governorate. This morning the work of our partner Caritas Jerusalem was interrupted by raids in the area. They sent us this update:

“This morning, Israeli Security Forces (ISF) invaded Zababdeh village, in the Jenin Governate, demolishing a house in the eastern neighbourhood. Caritas Jerusalem (CJ) staff were forced to remain at home, and the Latin School shifted to remote learning. The military withdrew an hour ago, marking another escalation in the ongoing operations across Jenin Governorate.

CJ continues to provide humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the surrounding villages, despite limited resources. Staff are expected to return to the office shortly to resume relief efforts.”

As the situation in the West Bank grows increasingly uncertain and volatile, we ask you to hold those caught up in the violence in your prayers.

19 FEBRUARY

Disability services in Gaza City

Our partner the Princess Basma Centre provides specialist rehabilitation for children with disabilities in Gaza and the West Bank. Today they sent us this update:

“We cherish all good news these days. And so we celebrate the safe arrival of our two displaced therapists from southern Gaza to join their colleagues at our satellite unit in Gaza City.

We are also delighted that they are joined by a seventh team member, Ala'a our new Speech and Language therapist. This means that we can truly embrace our multi-disicplinary model of rehabilitation and treat children with complex needs and their families holistically and in one place.”

18 FEBRUARY

An update from the Olive Tree Project in the West Bank

Embrace supports the Olive Tree Project through our partner the East Jerusalem YMCA. The project helps Palestinian farmers in the West Bank by replacing olive trees that have been uprooted or destroyed by Settlers trying to claim Palestinian land as their own. They sent us this video update:

17 FEBRUARY

14 FEBRUARY

570 Christians still sheltering in Gaza City’s churches

The ceasefire has brought some relief and hope for Gaza’s Christian community, but they have not been able to return to their homes. 570 Christians remain in compounds of the Holy Family Church and St Porphyrius Church in Gaza City and daily life remains a struggle. Nathalie, who is current living at St Porphyrius Church, told our partner Caritas Jerusalem:

"All Christians are still located in churches' compounds. Nobody has left. Even if your house is still standing, it is not suitable for living... no materials are available to repair homes … There is no water, no electricity, no market to buy anything. We have to walk long distances to find anything of use, and even then, we may find nothing.”

The church compounds provide safety, food and shelter but life for those living there is still extremely difficult and uncertainty about what the future will hold continues.

11 FEBRUARY

An update from Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza City

Staff at Al-Ahli Hospital tell us that they are continuing to see a huge demand for their medical services (600-700 patients a day). The ceasefire has meant many people are now seeking treatment for conditions or wounds and burns that they were not able to during the fighting. This means that sadly these patients are in a poor medical condition, experiencing acute symptoms.

Some chemotherapy and rehabilitation treatment for cancer patients has now restarted at the hospital and they are looking to repair their damaged diagnostic centre so that this can be expanded. Many of the buildings at Al Ahli Hospital have been damaged during the war - repairs are estimated at $1.6 million.

10 FEBRUARY

New medical point established in Gaza

Our partner Caritas Jerusalem are continuing to provide vital medical services in Gaza, as they did throughout the war. The ceasefire has meant they have been able to establish a new medical point on Al Rasheed Street (one of the main north-south roads in Gaza) to support the displaced families who are now returning to the ruins of northern Gaza. They are also making progress on repairing their damaged medical centre in Al-Shaati refugee camp in the north of Gaza so that this can be reopened. But with many supplies still scarce and the infrastructure of Gaza in ruins, the difficulties faced by all in Gaza are immense. They shared this video update and spoke of the daily challenges and uncertainty facing Gazans:

“The ceasefire offers little comfort when daily survival is fraught with challenges…this [medical] point is a lifeline for those navigating the precarious conditions of the aftermath of war.”

5 FEBRUARY

“We are not leaving” – Gaza’s Christians respond to President Trump

Shortly after President Trump’s shock announcement of his plans that the USA would take over Gaza and Palestinians would be resettled, we spoke to our friend George Antone, who remained in Gaza City throughout the war and is one of the 570 Christians still sheltering in the two churches there. He told us:

“For us as Christians, we are not leaving Gaza for any reason. We will remain in Gaza and we will help the people in Gaza. We will help in reconstructing Gaza. We will help in rebuilding the houses and the streets and we will stay in Gaza – we are not leaving. … Thank you very much for your concern and for Embrace the Middle East and everything you do for us.”

Embrace’s response to President Trump’s announcement about Gaza:

Our CEO, Jamie Eyre, shared Embrace’s reaction to President Trump’s announcement about Gaza in an interview on UCB Radio:

“We support an end to this conflict that is decided on by Palestinians and Israelis together, and not imposed by one side or one foreign power.”

You can listen to the full interview here.

4 FEBRUARY

Medical clinics reopen in Rafah and Gaza City

Throughout the war in Gaza, the dedicated medical staff of our partner the DSPR have been providing primary medical care but the war forced them to relocate their clinics on several occasions. The ceasefire has meant they’ve been able to return to assess the damage to their buildings and begin the work of reopening them. They told us:

“In Rafah, we have reopened our primary healthcare center, which had been forced to close during Israeli the invasion to Rafah. Thankfully, the building was not destroyed, though it required repairs, medical equipment, and medicine.

“We also continued operations at the clinic in Nuseirat, in the central area of Gaza strip…The [displaced] staff members who returned to Gaza City and the northern regions have joined the teams there [and] the temporary medical point established in Gaza City after the destruction of our clinics in Shejaiya and Daraj remains active. Restoration work is also underway at DSPR’s main building, bringing us closer to reopening two primary healthcare centers that will serve the people of Gaza City.”

Providing support for those returning to northern Gaza

Over the last few days, thousands of displaced Gazan families have been returning to the north. Many are making the journey on foot, carrying their possessions. Teams from our partner the DSPR have been out on the roads to distribute food and water and provide psychological first aid.

3 FEBRUARY

30 JANUARY

Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza still treating hundreds of patients a day

A couple of weeks ago, Al Ahli Hospital was treating over 700 patients a day. These photos, taken yesterday, show how busy the hospital remains, operating at far beyond capacity.

Please continue to pray for the patients and for the medical staff, as they continue to provide vital treatment amid deeply challenging circumstances.

29 JANUARY

24 JANUARY

23 JANUARY

A Message from Gaza’s Christians

20 JANUARY

Update on Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza

Yesterday the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire but also calling on the region’s leaders to invest political and financial capital into peacebuilding so that there can be a just and lasting peace. You can download the full statement here.

The diocese runs Al Ahli Hospital, which Embrace has been partnering with for many years and supporting throughout this current crisis. In their statement, they had this to say on the work of the hospital:

At this time, we would like to commend the courageous staff and volunteers of our Al Ahli Hospital and its clinics in Gaza, who have endured unbearable hardships in extending Christ’s healing ministry to the thousands of wounded patients they have treated throughout the course of the war. They are true heroes in this disastrous chapter in our region’s history.

We would also like to thank our many partners and donors around the world: without your generous support, we could not have kept our hospital supplied and running amid the many adversities it has faced. In the weeks and months ahead there will be more opportunities to contribute towards expanding the work of the hospital in order to meet the needs of the battered Gazan community in the face of a largely demolished healthcare system.

With the danger from airstrikes currently over, more people will be able to access the hospital and its outreach clinics to seek treatment, so demand for its services is likely to rise.

18 JANUARY

17 JANUARY

Update from the West Bank

Our colleague David is in the West Bank, visiting some of our partners. He sent us this update:

“In the West Bank our partners welcomed the news of the ceasefire with joy. They are relieved that the killing will end and that there will be some safety for their brothers and sisters and all the people of Gaza.

“They are also aware that now is when a lot of the work starts. Partners are busy and actively planning how they will respond. The magnitude of the need will become increasingly clear in the coming weeks. There are thousands injured, millions displaced and a traumatised population.

“Along with the joy there is also concern about what the future holds for the West Bank. The West Bank remains in crisis and the ceasefire in Gaza will not change the situation here. There is concern that military actions may increase and continue the pattern of escalation that has been seen in West Bank for the past 16 months. The intensity of the occupation continues to increase and the ceasefire needs to be just one step on the path towards a just peace.”

16 JANUARY

Response from our partner Caritas Jerusalem to the news of a Gaza ceasefire deal

Response from church leaders in Jerusalem to Gaza ceasefire deal

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land (which is made up of leaders of the Latin, Melkite, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian and Chaldean churches and the Custody of the Holy Land), released a statement in which they said:

“… We hope that this ceasefire will mark an important end to the violence that has caused immeasurable suffering. It is a necessary step to halt the destruction and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of countless families affected by the conflict.

“However, we are aware that the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict. It is therefore necessary to seriously and credibly address the deep-rooted issues that have been at the root of this conflict for far too long. Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved through a just solution that addresses the origin of this long-standing struggle. This requires a long process, a willingness to acknowledge each other's suffering and a focused education in trust that leads to overcoming fear of the other and the justification of violence as a political tool…”

You can read their statement in full on their website.

Embrace’s response to the news of a ceasefire deal in Gaza

The temporary ceasefire is good news, but it is only the beginning, not the end. We remember all those who have been left dead or wounded, who have lost loved ones and all their possessions. We are deeply grateful for the courage and strength of our church partners who have carried on serving others in the most awful of circumstances, providing healthcare, psychological support and emergency provisions. We continue to call for lasting peace and an end to the violence. We call for the recognition of all Palestinians’ rights, an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and full accountability for all violations of international law since 7 October 2023. 

Embrace the Middle East has joined with 17 other charities and NGOs in issuing a joint statement calling on the UK Government to ensure that this pause turns rapidly into a permanent ceasefire and that it is the impetus to bring to an end the Israeli authorities’ occupation and oppression of Palestinians. You can READ THE STATEMENT HERE

15 JANUARY

14 JANUARY

2 JANUARY

Strike on Al Ahli Hospital

We are distressed to hear about the strike on our partner, Al Ahli Hospital, in Gaza, on 29 December 2024. Healthcare facilities should not be targets of war, and any attack on them constitutes violations of international law. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has released the following statement about the strike:

“On the morning of the Feast of the Holy Family, December 29, 2024, our Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was attacked again by an Israeli artillery shell which resulted in the destruction of a doctor’s clinic on the top floor of the Diagnostic Center Building at the west end, near the hospital compound. The affected building is currently functioning as the Chemotherapy Treatment Center in a partnership between Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza, and Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem.

The Diocese of Jerusalem, owner and manager of Ahli Arab Hospital, condemns this attack and other attacks on the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip, especially in the North. We call upon all warring parties to reach a ceasefire immediately and come to an agreement for the sake of all innocent victims of this war.”