Embrace Partner Updates

LATEST UPDATES 20 DECEMBER

A Christmas message from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

“In the midst of these dark days of continuing conflict and uncertainty in our region, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, remain steadfast in proclaiming to our local congregations and the wider world the eternal Christmas message of the True Light shining in the darkness: the birth of our Lord Jesus in Bethlehem…

…during this sacred Christmas season and beyond, we call upon all Christians and those of goodwill around the world to join us in praying and working towards this noble mission, both in Christ’s homeland and wherever there is conflict and strife. For by together doing so, we will indeed be truly honoring the Prince of Peace who was born so humbly in a stable in Bethlehem more than two millennia ago.” READ THE MESSAGE IN FULL

18 DECEMBER

A Christmas message from Gaza

Our partner Caritas Jerusalem works in Gaza and the West Bank. They sent this Christmas message:

As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, we are reminded of the profound message of peace, hope, and light that He brings to the world. This is our second Christmas in the midst of war, yet our hearts remain steadfast in faith, trusting that the righteousness of Christ will prevail over all darkness. In this season of reflection and joy, we turn to the words of Scripture:

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

These words remind us that even in the darkest of times, the light of Christ shines brightly, and in Him, we find the peace that the world cannot offer. We stand together in hope for a future where oppression ends, where tyranny is no more, and where justice reigns.

This Christmas, we wish you all the peace, joy, and love that the birth of our Saviour brings. Though we are surrounded by the challenges of war, we are united in the hope that with Christ, a new reality is being born—a reality where there is no more injustice, no more suffering, and no more darkness.

May this Christmas be a time of renewed faith and hope and may the light of Christ guide us all to a brighter, more just future.”

16 DECEMBER

10 DECEMBER

5 DECEMBER

Families in Lebanon return to find homes damaged and looted

During the airstrikes, many families fled from the informal settlement on the edge of Beirut that our partner Tahaddi serves. As the fragile ceasefire continues to hold, some have been returning to their homes. But sadly they are not as they left them:

“Lebanese and Dom communities are gradually returning to the neighbourhood, only to discover their homes looted of essential items: mattresses, blankets, gas bottles, camping stoves – even iron doors have been removed from some rooms.

Tahaddi staff members are also navigating personal struggles as they resume their roles while contending with homes that have been severely damaged. The war has profoundly impacted Lebanon. The road to recovery will be long, but together, we focus on what lies ahead – rebuilding and healing.”

2 DECEMBER

An Update from Syria

In response to the renewed fighting in Aleppo, we pray for our partners there and the communities they serve:

We have been in touch with our partners in Aleppo and they tell us that they are safe and the streets are currently quiet, but that there fear of more fighting and uncertainty of what will happen next: “People are very scared. We have to wait and see how things will evolve.”

29 NOVEMBER

Prayer request from the West Bank

Please pray for Layan Nasir, a young Christian woman from the West Bank who has been held under Israeli administrative detention, without charge, since April. 23-year-old Layan is the niece of one of our partners’ staff. Since her arrest at gunpoint, her family say they have not been allowed to visit her and neither has her parish priest.

She is due to be released at the weekend, but her detention period has already been extended once by Israel and her family are fearful that it will be again. Those under administrative detention are often held without trial for indefinite periods by Israel – a practice that contravenes international law.

28 NOVEMBER

Ceasefire joy, but mourning so much lost in Lebanon

Today we received this update from Hussein, director of our partner the Learning Centre for the Deaf in Lebanon:

“As I drove to the LCD this morning, I noticed something I haven’t seen in months: no pillars of smoke rising over Beirut. The sky was clear for the first time in what feels like an eternity, since the air raids began. The ceasefire, which started yesterday morning, has allowed many displaced people to return to their homes in Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon. Unfortunately, many found their homes completely destroyed. I saw the despair on TV and social media as people stood in front of their shattered homes. It’s heart-breaking, and the sense of hopelessness is overwhelming.

Today, my sister’s family is leaving the LCD after staying there for nine weeks. They received the devastating news that their homes and their schools were destroyed. My own home is also completely gone. It’s incredibly painful to lose all our belongings, especially the heirlooms passed down from my parents, grandparents, and loved ones. My hometown has been wiped out, leaving nothing behind.

My sister’s family will temporarily move to a rented house 25 kilometers from their hometown, where they will stay until a solution is found for rebuilding their home and schools for children with special needs.

The staff at the LCD is relieved by the ceasefire, as it allows work to resume as it once did.”

Finding strength in the Lord

Our partner Thimar-LSESD sent us this update in response to the ceasefire:

“At the time of sending this letter, a preliminary ceasefire has been agreed upon. We are grateful that many can go back home or to what is left of it.  

Amid the hardship and war our country and region are facing, we felt the need, during this Thanksgiving season, to pause and reflect as a team. We recognize how easily we can become overwhelmed by the weight of our circumstances or by the demands of ministry and the many needs of those we serve. In moments like these, we often seek refuge in our own strength, efforts, or resources. Yet, we are consistently reminded that our true security comes not from what we can do, but from what Christ has already done for us.

As a team, we recently sang the Arabic rendition of the hymn "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me" by CityAlight, and its Christ-centered words resonated deeply with us during this time. It is a powerful reminder that it is Christ who sustains, strengthens, and works through us - despite our shortcomings and the overwhelming needs:  

25 NOVEMBER

Embrace launches Advent Not Arms Campaign

Join us in calling on the UK Government to suspend arms sales to Israel and push further to secure a ceasefire. You can find out more and our sign petition here.

21 NOVEMBER

Disability Rehabilitation Centre hit by airstrike in Lebanon

Today we heard the distressing news from our partner Al Kafaat that one of their disability campuses, known as ‘The Village’, has been hit by an airstrike. The campus, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, included a specialist autism centre, sheltered workshops, a centre for children and adults with Down syndrome and an activity centre for adults with severe intellectual disabilities. Thankfully there were no casualties as the residents had already been evacuated back in September but the extent of the damage is so far unclear.  

20 NOVEMBER

Our partner the DSPR-MECC sent us these images of some of their work in Gaza. At their medical points in Gaza City and the central Gaza strip, and through their mobile medical clinic, they continue to provide primary health care services, psychosocial support, basic medical laboratory services, medicine, food and other emergency supplies and cash support.

Their team now numbers more than 100 and they tell us: “Every day the teams revise their intervention plans, and get to their work locations. Many of them are living in tents, almost all of them are forcedly displaced, but miraculously they are recharged with a renewable energy, faith and dedication to serve.”

18 NOVEMBER

Young midwife and family killed in Gaza

We’re shocked and saddened to report the death of another of our partners’ staff in Gaza. Last week, 27-year-old Doha, who worked as a midwife for our partner the DSPR-MECC was killed when an IDF airstrike hit the building she was sheltering in in Gaza City. For the last few months, she had been working at the DSPR’s medical point in Gaza City. Her team members told us:

“Doha was very kind dedicated and hardworking young women with high dreams and big heart. May her soul rest in peace.”

Doha was killed along with her husband, two young children, mother, father and brother.

15 NOVEMBER

13 NOVEMBER

Supporting Children with Disabilities in Gaza

Our partner, The Princess Basma Centre, sent us this video update about their work in Gaza. Embrace funding helped them set up their disability unit at Al Alhi Hospital.

12 NOVEMBER

8 NOVEMBER

6 NOVEMBER

Already crowded refugee camps in Lebanon host displaced families from the south

The Community Centre in Dbayeh refugee camp, run by the Joint Christian Committee (JCC), is supported by Embrace. In recent weeks the already over-crowded camp has seen many more people arriving as families from the south of Lebanon seek shelter with relatives. With poverty levels so high in the camp, few can afford to support displaced families – but have opened up their homes nonetheless. The JCC told us of ‘the hospitality and generosity of the residents of the camp who welcomed the displaced families amongst them and in their homes in spite of their own poverty’.

The JCC, in partnership with another Embrace partner, the Pontifical Mission for Lebanon, has been distributing hot meals, blankets, mattresses, pillows and clothing from their Community Centre. Embrace funding is specifically helping with the distribution of nappies, milk and potable water as well as supporting JCC’s education programme at the Centre, which they have expanded to provide classes for newly displaced children.

Yesterday they sent us this video update:

Education continues despite airstrikes in southern Beirut

Recent airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs have struck very close to the centres of our partner Tahaddi – some within 500 meters. Amid the dangers, children remaining in the neighbourhood are keen to continue their education and so the staff at Tahaddi’s Education Centre are running lessons for an hour each day in maths, English and Arabic. Around 40 children attend these sessions, where they are also supported with games and activities to address stress and anxiety.

The teams at Tahaddi’s sewing atelier and workshop continue to make vital supplies for the shelters. Last week they created 400 blankets, pillows and pillowcases, along with 13 new beds. Conditions in many of the emergency shelters are very bad. Tahaddi staff delivered two beds to one shelter housing 40 people. They told us that building was originally offices and not designed to house people. The kitchen is on the balcony, and the only water point is in a small bathroom on the ground floor.

“As the situation drags on and hopes for peace fade, it sometimes becomes difficult to meet the growing social and medical needs of the families around us … and to support our team members who have been displaced. Thank you for your generosity and support, your friendship, and us being in your thoughts during these challenging times."

4 NOVEMBER

We have received distressing news from our partner, Caritas Jerusalem, in the wake of intense shelling on the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. They sent us the following update:

Injuries and loss of lives in central Gaza

“On the night of Friday, November 1, 2024, a bombardment struck North of Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, injuring two Caritas doctors and devastating their families.

A female doctor sustained a leg injury, while a male doctor was pulled from the rubble with a broken collarbone.

Tragically, he lost his brother, wife, and two young children, including a six-week-old infant. Other family members were also injured.

The father of a second female Caritas doctor was injured in the same incident.

The doctors were at home with their families when the attack occurred. They work at Caritas Medical Point in the South of Al-Nuseirat camp.

All we can do is pray and hope for a swift recovery for the injured. We reiterate our plea for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the region to prevent further loss of innocent lives.”

30 OCTOBER

Meals and healthcare for displaced families

Our partner Tahaddi has told us that 80% of the local community they serve in southern Beirut is now displaced throughout the country. Five of their staff members and families are homeless, as their apartments have been damaged or destroyed.

Despite this, Tahaddi continues to support those in great need. Here are some extracts from their latest update…

“On Friday 25 October, Tahaddi volunteers distributed hot meals to 120 displaced individuals from the Hay El Gharbeh neighbourhood, who are now staying temporarily at the Beirut Hippodrome, where the men work as stable hands. A stable for a horse, a stable for a family.”

“During a recent visit to a school in Beirut, Tahaddi nurses conducted screenings and triage to assess needs. After completing their duties, they took the initiative to visit bedridden patients unable to reach the appointment area. They found a critically ill patient with special needs and coordinated his immediate referral to an emergency department.”

“The Tahaddi Medical Director and two doctors consulted around 70 displaced patients, providing medications when available. Many were suffering from respiratory infections, gastrointestinal issues, and worsening chronic conditions due to lack of medication and psychological distress.”

28 OCTOBER

Caring for marginalised families in Lebanon

Our partner, Tahaddi, is working hard to support the remaining one-fifth of families who have not fled from the Beirut neighbourhood where they are located. They told us these families have “serious needs and deep fears”:

Serving displaced Deaf individuals in Beirut

Our partner, the Learning Centre for the Deaf, sent us the following update:

“Unfortunately, the situation in Lebanon has worsened. Daily, we hear about casualties and destruction, especially in the south of Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the towns in the Bekaa Valley. We have witnessed destruction near the Learning Center for the Deaf (LCD) and have heard heavy explosions, primarily at night, from midnight to early morning, which has disrupted our sleep. In the mornings, we see huge plumes of smoke rising about 300 meters into the sky, especially in the suburbs. Many buildings have been severely damaged, leaving thousands of families homeless. 

At the LCD, we have welcomed 22 displaced individuals … They have received support from the Lebanese Red Cross and another organisation, providing basic food, hygiene items, clothing, etc. We are able to offer them full accommodation at the top floors of the LCD, electricity, a generator, and a kitchen, so they are managing well. 

Since September 24th, we have been working to provide mattresses, household materials, food, and other essentials for displaced Deaf individuals. Some have been living on the streets of Beirut, while others have taken refuge in public schools. Recently, our board members helped those living on the streets to transition into public schools, where they can remain until a more permanent solution is found.”

24 OCTOBER

Providing medical care at emergency shelters in Beirut

23 OCTOBER

Shortage of food and medical supplies at Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza

The rise in fighting in Northern Gaza in recent weeks has meant that Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City has once again been at the forefront of the emergency medical response. Yesterday we spoke to Suhaila Tarazi, the hospital’s Director, who told us that over 1,000 people are coming through the hospital’s doors each day - the injured and sick, along with their families. On average they are treating around 150 inpatients.

These are similar numbers to what the hospital experienced at the height of the fighting at the start of the war.  This is much more than the capacity of the hospital so, unfortunately, they are having to use the corridors for patients. The number of emergency cases meant that last week they had to postpone treatment for some of the more stable war injuries.

They are also facing a shortage of food and medical supplies because of the restrictions on getting aid into northern Gaza. Suhaila told us famine was a real risk. 

Alongside trauma injuries, and conditions resulting from the conflict, the hospital continues to offer what it can to offer more 'normal' care. During the month of October, they have been doing what they can to raise awareness of breast cancer and offering scans and some surgeries. They also have a clinic at Al Mawasi, the designated safe zone in Gaza. There they do not have equipment to conduct mammograms, instead they are running an awareness programme and teaching women how to do self-examinations to spot signs of cancer so that they can seek early care from doctors.

Switching to online education to keep classes running in Lebanon

The education centre run by our partner Tahaddi is in an informal settlement on the edge of Beirut. The airstrikes have meant that 70% of the staff have either been displaced from their homes or are hosting displaced family members. Despite this, they are busy preparing an online programme, to give their pupils (80% of whom are also displaced) a chance to continue some of their education. But the situation is very difficult, as the team told us:

“Due to the situation, only one activity per week per subject will be sent to each class, which will still result in 5 to 9 activities per class per week. However, access to this program is complicated for the children, as they often have only one phone per family, face major power outages, and have difficulties accessing WiFi.

“The uncertainty about the future is extremely hard for all of us. Thank you for continuing to keep Lebanon in your hearts.”

22 OCTOBER

Providing primary healthcare for displaced in Lebanon

Here are some pictures from yesterday - a medical team from our partner the Karagheusian Health Centre have been visiting emergency shelters in their neighbourhood to provide primary healthcare and medication.

21 OCTOBER

Beds delivered to emergency shelter in Lebanon

At the weekend, our partner Tahaddi delivered 6 beds to help some of the most vulnerable residents in emergency shelters, who have been having to sleep on the floor. The beds had been made in Tahaddi’s carpentry workshop by members of their youth group. Tahaddi’s staff told us:

“It’s heart-breaking to see these people living in such trying conditions, far from their village, their home, uprooted in overcrowded, noisy, and inhospitable places. Yet the dedication of the young people, who help tirelessly, is touching. One of the people we gave a bed to had tears in her eyes, moved by their kindness, after they lifted her from her mattress on the floor, placed her in a chair, assembled the bed in front of her, and gently laid her on a real bed.”

18 OCTOBER

Psychological support for traumatised children in Lebanon

Staff at our partner the Joint Christian Committee (JCC) report that missiles have fallen close to their farm in the Tyre-region of Lebanon and near their community centre at Ein El Hilweh, which usually runs art, literacy and music programmes. The programmes at the centre have halted, but instead the staff have run art sessions at two schools that have been turned into emergency shelters – to help provide psychological support for traumatised children there.

The Dbayeh Refugee Camp near Beirut has seen an influx of people as displaced families from the south look for shelter among friends and relatives there. Embrace supports JCC’s library at the camp. Staff have been responding to the need by providing hot meals at the library and distributing food boxes to households hosting displaced families. JCC told us:

“As families struggle to cope with the catastrophe that has befallen them, JCC is committed to offering whatever assistance and support it can. This support is critical to these families who are trying to hold on as the whole country is ignorant of what the future holds.”

17 OCTOBER

16 OCTOBER

Impact of the crisis on Lebanon’s children

The autumn term should have begun in Lebanon, but because of the crisis the government has delayed the start of the academic year until 4th November. However, with over 60% of state schools currently being used as emergency shelters, it’s unclear if children will be able to restart their education then.

The education team at our partner Tahaddi have kept in contact with the families of the children who attend their education centre. Many have fled the neigbourhood because of the airstrikes, but about 20% remain. Yesterday the team organised fun games and educational activities for some of the children. It was also a chance to check on how they are coping. One of the staff members told us:

”It felt almost surreal teaching children how to protect themselves in case of a strike, or discussing what to pack in a survival bag…and, yes, you need to prepare it now, please… while elsewhere, other children are learning history, irregular past tenses, or playing basketball during recess.”

Making beds for the most vulnerable in the shelters

Two members of Tahaddi’s youth group came to the centre and used their carpentry skills to make 6 additional beds for sick or older people displaced in schools.

15 OCTOBER

Embrace signs joint statement on ending Israel’s atrocities in northern Gaza

‘This is not a time for silence - this is a time for action. The people of Gaza cannot wait. The world must intervene now before more innocent lives are lost.’ Embrace has joined 37 other organisations in calling on global leaders to do everything in their power to stop the escalation of violence and forced evacuation in northern Gaza. READ STATEMENT IN FULL

Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza running out of blood supplies

The IDF have been intensifying their military operations in northern Gaza in recent weeks. Until today, no food aid had been allowed in since 1 October and three hospitals have been told to evacuate. Our partner Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City has been receiving some of these patients, as well as casualties from the air strike on Al Shati refugee camp. Al Ahli Hospital has put out an urgent call for blood donations, food and medicine as they do not have enough supplies.

14 OCTOBER

Partner staff homes destroyed in airstrikes in Lebanon

The staff of our partners in Lebanon continue to be hugely impacted by the IDF strikes in Beirut – both in terms of their work and terrible personal loss. We received this update from our partner Tahaddi:

“We're constantly in emergency mode, having to adapt quickly to a reality that has turned our lives upside down… no one is doing the work they are normally employed to do. There are displaced staff members from Tahaddi, displaced children from Tahaddi programs, and our neighbourhood that is practically deserted, eerily silent but filled with the continual noise of drones.

“Two days ago, I called a colleague whose home was completely flattened…another lost his childhood home where his uncle had been living before taking refuge with relatives some days ago… Yesterday evening, a terrible strike was launched in a very populated area where 3 of our staff live. They were in tears: they had been so frightened by the deafening sound of the missiles. They targeted 3 buildings, killed 22 innocent people, and injured many more. Will we see an end to this war?

Amidst all this, the dedication, resilience and bravery of the Tahaddi’s staff is incredible. Although airstrikes have come near to their neighbourhood, they have been able to keep their sewing atelier open. It is providing vital income for 7 mothers and 3 young people (who continue to turn up to work, despite the dangers) and producing much-needed blankets and pillows for displaced families.

This image shows blankets and pillows sent by Tahaddi arriving at a church centre that usually hosts summer camps:

Tahaddi staff told us: “The centre has opened its doors to displaced families from several villages in the south and from Beirut. It is a beautiful place in the mountains, but it’s already cool in the evenings and at night, and it's not heated.

They also sent us this video, which shows the arrivals of materials at the Sewing Atelier, noting: “You will hear the silence haunted by the continual noise of drones.”

12 OCTOBER

11 OCTOBER

Karagheusian Medical Centre provides food, electricity and healthcare for displaced

The staff at the Karagheusian Medical Centre not only continue to provide vital medical care to residents and displaced families in the neighbourhood – they are also now providing hot meals and a place for people to charge mobile phones and LED lights.

Their community kitchen is currently preparing and distributing hot meals to 300 families.

The medical teams are also visiting the emergency shelters to provide medical care. Today (11th October), they visited a shelter which is currently home to over 1,000 displaced people.

10 OCTOBER

Faithful service and resilience in the face of danger

Our partner Tahaddi’s centre in southern Lebanon is very close to where airstrikes have been happening. Despite the danger, the staff and volunteers continue to serve faithfully, preparing nutritious meals and sewing blankets and pillowcases for displaced families.

In an update on 8 October, Tahaddi told us:

“While we were working at the centre with a few colleagues, an airstrike was carried out very close by, on the airport road near our centre. We expected the sewing team to come in panic, but no one did. In fact, the noise of the machines drowned out the explosions, and everyone continued working without realising what had just happened!”

Providing families with vital health services

Amid the upheaval and destruction in Lebanon, the dedicated staff at our partner the Karaghuesian Medical Centre in the Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood of Beirut continue to provide vital health services. Bourj Hammoud is one of the northern suburbs of the city and has so far not been the focus of the airstrikes, so there has been an influx of people into the area. The staff at Karagheusian tell us that they are treating over 700 patients a day. They are also reaching out to support the schools in the neighbourhood, which are now being used as emergency shelters and where over 1,000 displaced are now living.

9 OCTOBER

Airstrikes fall close to our partner’s centre in Lebanon

Last night the IDF airstrikes in southern Beirut were in very close proximity to the Al-Kafaàt Foundation’s disability rehabilitation centre known as The Village. Today, we had this update from Myriam, one of the Trustees of Al-Kafaàt:

"We have no access to the Village… The night was bad. Our management teams are now on the Ain Saadeh university campus [outside of Beirut] as we restructure our services. We have set up a crisis cell to allow for all services to be on campus.”

Many of Al-Kafaàt’s staff are currently also having to shelter at the university camps as their homes are in one of the areas of Beirut that has been a focal point of IDF strikes.

The challenge of keeping educational projects running in Lebanon

The education centre and programmes run by our partner Tahaddi support over 600 children in the informal settlement of Hay El Gharbeh in southern Beirut. Since the airstrikes started, many of the residents have fled the area in search of safety. Tahaddi’s education team are committed to continuing to support the children in whatever way they can, including potentially offering education through WhatsApp groups or online. This week they reached out to the families to ascertain their location and situation so they can plan a response. So far, of the families who responded, only three remain in the area. The rest have been forced into either seeking temporary accommodation with relatives or in emergency shelters, have fled to Syria, or in some cases, are now living on the streets of Beirut.

8 OCTOBER

Distributing meals to displaced families in Lebanon

Yesterday our partner Tahaddi send us this update:

‘Beirut has become a vast open-air dormitory, with families often finding themselves in extremely precarious conditions —especially those who haven't secured space in schools. Access to water is one of the greatest challenges for displaced families, even for those in organized shelters. On Sunday, we distributed sandwiches directly to families camping outside in makeshift shelters.’

Working with their partner organisation Bedayati, they have so far been able to distribute 420 meals and 420 sandwiches to displaced families. They have also supplied 600 blankets, 600 pillows and 50 mattresses to 19 schools that are now being used as emergency shelters.

7 OCTBER

6 OCTOBER

We have received this video from our partner Thimar-LSESD. For many years Embrace has been supporting Thimar’s programme which provided displaced families in Lebanon with essentials such as food, hygiene kits, blankets and mattresses. Now Thimar are rapidly expanding this project.

4 OCTOBER

The centres owned by our partner Tahaddi are located on the edge of the southern suburb of Beirut. The airstrikes on parts of Beirut in recent days means the neighbourhood is now half-deserted. But Tahaddi’s sewing atelier has, so far, been able to remain open – providing vital employment for those who are still in the neighbourhood and producing much-needed supplies for displaced families. Yesterday, eight members of the sewing team were able to sew over 200 pillowcases in just three and a half hours. Many of the team are themselves displaced, either living in temporary accommodation or, in some cases, on the streets.

The pillowcases were distributed to the schools that are now being used as emergency accommodation. Tahaddi is also working with the schools to help provide much-needed medication and medical equipment. Yesterday this included buying and delivering a nebuliser for a sick child.

The streets of Beirut are filled with displaced families

These images were taken by our friend Hussein from the Learning Centre for the Deaf. He was out for a morning run with his friend Hisham, but instead stopped to speak with many of the families. He said:

“The views of hundreds of families living in these streets were heartbreaking…How could one comfort them when they are in these situations? Hisham and I felt compelled to take action beyond our run. We spoke about returning to support these families within our capacity…

One mother feared about their situation when the rain comes - where would they go? Another mother said: ‘we thank God; He will not abandon us!’ Yes, we acknowledged God’s goodness and the strength of the human spirit, and with that acknowledgment comes a responsibility to act with compassion and solidarity.”

3 OCTOBER

Sewing supplies for displaced families

Our partner Tahaddi tell us that there have been airstrikes close to their centre on the edge of Beirut in recent nights. Nevertheless, on Tuesday workers at their sewing atelier came in to help sewing pillow cases for displaced families. Many of the women who work at the atelier are themselves from refugee families and know what it is like to have to flee your home.

2 OCTOBER

Iranian missile attack strikes fear among Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank

The deployment of Iranian ballistic missiles last night marked Tehran’s largest-ever attack on Israel. We have been in touch with our partners in Israel and Palestine and are grateful to report that they are all safe. Unsurprisingly, though, the latest escalation has left them deeply shaken and fearful for the future.

Our partners and friends in the West Bank do not have access to bomb shelters, making them particularly vulnerable to attacks from above. Please do continue to pray for peace.

Supporting displaced children in Lebanon

There are large numbers of displaced people in the north of Lebanon and many school buildings have been turned into shelters for families with nowhere else to go. Our partner, Beit El Nour, is running recreational activities for children sheltering at one of the schools in Tripoli. As the pictures below illustrate, the activities are helping to give the children a sense of structure and joy amid the chaos and uncertainty:

1 OCTOBER

“Our days are exhausting, emotionally and physically”

Yesterday we received this voice note from one of the staff at Tahaddi. Tahaddi provides primary healthcare, education and social services to communities in an informal settlement on the edge of Beirut. Many of their staff have been displaced because of the shelling.

30 SEPTEMBER

Partner centres turned into emergency shelters in Lebanon

Several of our partners have converted their schools, community centres and buildings to host newly displaced families. Below are some photos of families sheltering at the Learning Centre for the Deaf. The centre does have some bedrooms, enough to sleep up to 8 people, but over the weekend 18 people were sheltering there and some had to sleep on the classroom floors.

Our partner Beit El Nour have also opened up one of their education centres to shelter displaced families. This morning their staff and volunteers met to plan how to best support the families staying there and what activities they can run at the centre:

Prayer requests and messages from our Lebanese partners

As the IDF shelling of parts of Beirut and Hezbollah sites across Lebanon intensified over the weekend, we were in close contact with our Lebanese partners. Here are some of the messages they sent us:

- “We are physically ok, but our hearts bleed for Beirut ... We have lost innocent lives and thousands of lives are impacted. Huge number of sudden homeless families need urgent help. We ask for your prayers and support.”

- “It's a real nightmare. Lebanon needs your prayers. Our staff has visited the schools in Bourj Hammoud and Tripoli and starting on Monday they will start offering help and support for children. We can provide psychological support sessions and recreational activities but still they need the basics like mattresses, covers, food…”

- “It was very violent. We live day to day. We don’t know what God has in store for us tomorrow. We are in his hands.”

-“We barely slept. We are safe but extremely worried. We continue welcoming [displaced] families onto our campus.”

- “We are in need of every prayer.”

29 SEPTEMBER

Residents evacuated from disability centre in Lebanon

Yesterday our partners Al-Kafaat had to evacuate the residents of one of their disability centres for their safety. One of their trustees, who took part in the evacuation, told us:

“Last night, Israel was violently pounding our capital, and one of our centres was under great danger. Children and adults with special needs who couldn’t go home were stuck with our employees… I waited until the sun rose. I kissed my husband and drove fast towards the place from where heavy smoke with a dark acidic smell covered the skies. The roads were nearly empty, except for the displaced who were carrying their belongings in trash bags, trying to escape the neighborhood.

”There, I met our two most trusted directors. Quickly, the team packed clothes, diapers, food, medicine…in trash bags. The residents were not fully understanding what was going on. They looked traumatized. I cheered them up, cracked some jokes, while rushing the team to get going. We waited for the bus, the teams with their trash bags, and our special children and adults to be lifted, carried or rolled on their chairs. One bus, two buses, and I am still cracking my jokes and laughing with the kids.  We could hear some pounding in the background, but we kept the momentum going. Quickly, quickly… Under one hour, we were ready to go. “All the kids are with you?” I shout to the director as she waves goodbye to me from the bus. “Yes, yes”, she replied, “They are all with me. All 14 of them!”. I wave goodbye. I turn my back, and I start to cry.”

Photos below: Evacuating on of the Al-Kafaat Centres, 28 September

28 SEPTEMBER

27 SEPTEMBER

Update from Lebanon - how our partners are helping displaced families

Thousands of people in Lebanon have been displaced by the escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Many have had to leave without time to pack essentials and are seeking shelter wherever they can. In our latest blog, staff at our partner Thimar tells us what they are doing to respond to this crisis and of some of the harrowing personal stories they are hearing… READ THE BLOG

26 SEPTEMBER

Providing shelter for displaced families in Lebanon

Our partner Al Kafaat are opening up their Ail Saadeh university campus dormitory to provide shelter for staff families who have had to evacuate the homes to escape the shelling. The building has been closed since 2020 so they are using Embrace funding to upgrade the bathroom facilities and also to provide food and essential supplies to those sheltering there.

We have launched an Urgent Appeal to support our partners’ response to the crisis unfolding in Lebanon and northern Israel - you can donate here.

25 SEPTEMBER

Update from Israel

Our partners in northern Israel told us of the disruption, restrictions and fear many are experiencing: “It's a very complicated period and nobody knows what will happen next. Thank you for your prayers, deeply appreciated and needed.”

For our partners in Acre this has had a direct impact on the projects that they run: "As the escalation in the north became greater all the schools are teaching virtually this week. Activities in the center in Acre are postponed, and the team are in constant communications with the girls we support." 

23 SEPTEMBER

Update from Lebanon

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, we continue to be in close contact with our partners in Lebanon. Thankfully, so far all are safe, but many of the schools and community centres that we support have not been able to open today. As always, our partners thoughts are how they can best serve, and many are drawing up contingency plans for the unfolding situation. We have launched an Urgent Appeal to support our partners’ response to the crisis unfolding in Lebanon and northern Israel - you can donate here.

Our partner Thimar (formerly The Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development) told us:

“In Beirut, attacks have not occurred as of this afternoon, but fear and uncertainty still spread like wildfire this morning as residents received messages from Israel, warning them to evacuate before its military strikes residential locations where it claims Hezbollah is storing weapons and munitions. As the messages arrived, parents rushed to pick up their children from school just as classes for the new academic year got underway.

Our school, BBS [Beirut Baptist School], which is in a largely non-Christian part of Beirut, issued semi-evacuation orders. It also began preparing its campus to host people displaced by fighting, just as it did during the last full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. Families we hosted then have reached out, asking if we can host them again 18 years later. Already, Lebanon’s ministry of education has instructed public schools in parts of the country currently under fire – or expected to come under fire – to open their doors for people who have fled, while classes in those areas have also been cancelled for today and tomorrow.

In this deep, frightening uncertainty, we continue to ask for your prayers and support. Yet all the while, we stand ready to respond. At our offices on the outskirts of Beirut, we have food boxes ready to distribute to people displaced by fighting and our aid and development ministry, Middle East Revive and Thrive, has been providing humanitarian support to people affected by the conflict for nearly a year.”

In the midst of this escalation of war and violence in the Middle East, we turn our eyes to God - please join us in prayer.

New clinic opens in Gaza

Last week our partners NECC-DSPR were able to open a new primary healthcare clinic in Nusirat, in the central Gaza strip. They told us:

“This clinic is an important addition to our mission of providing life-saving healthcare services to communities. On our very first day of operation, we proudly served over 400 men, women and children.

The clinic occupies a large hall that was once used for weddings and events. Though the building required significant repairs - including broken glass and a damaged ceiling - our dedicated team quickly jumped into action, transforming the space into a functional health center. In the coming days, we will continue structural works in the clinic, including adding partitions to improve patient care spaces.”

19 SEPTEMBER

Update from Lebanon

Following the explosions of thousands of electronic devices across Lebanon on 17 and 18 September, we have been in touch with partners and are greatly relieved that everyone is safe and unharmed. However, they are shaken and deeply concerned about what may follow and have asked for our prayers.

Our friends at The Al Kafaat Foundation told us:

“The last 48 hours have been tremendously challenging on all fronts, and we thank the Lord that all our children and staff are safe. Our programs and projects had already been delayed in August with the threat of escalation during that month.  Today, the threat is back. We thank the Lord that we are all safe today. But now, we fear what next?”

This was also reflected in what our friends at Thimar, The Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development, said:

“In the early days and weeks of this conflict, experts described the fight between Israel and Hezbollah as one being fought within the confines of unspoken rules of engagement between the two parties. Those contours have long been destroyed. Tit-for-tat strikes have spiralled out of control and given rise to an ever-escalating conflict with no end in sight.

Yesterday’s attack would have been unthinkable nearly a year ago. Indeed, who could have imagined such a strike? If such an attack had appeared in a movie or book, people would dismiss it as science fiction. But for us in Lebanon, it was very much real…

But it’s what is still yet to come that looms most heavily – the intangible dread, uncertainty, and anticipation of the next attack. Hezbollah, blaming Israel, has promised to retaliate... Psychological warfare has become as real as the tangible components of bombs and bullets.

We ask for your prayers and support… As we near the sombre one-year anniversary of October 7, we stand ever more convinced that the only lasting hope for this situation is found in the life-transforming message of the Gospel.” 

You can read the full update from Thimar here.

18 SEPTEMBER

Polio vaccinations in Gaza

We’re proud to share that our long-term partner DSPR-NECC is a key player in the implementation of World Health Organization’s polio vaccination programme in Gaza. This week they sent us this update:

“DSPR-NECC Gaza has been selected by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNRWA, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health as one of the 18 medical points that will conduct the polio vaccination campaign in the city of Gaza. This recognition reflects our dedication and capability in delivering vital healthcare services to the community. As part of this national campaign, DSPR-NECC has deployed five dedicated teams across Gaza, working tirelessly to reach thousands of children daily, ensuring they receive the protection they need against polio.

On Wednesday, 11 September 2024, DSPR-NECC Gaza, in partnership with the Church of the Holy Family, the Church of St. Porphyrius, and the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity Shelter, collaborated with the Ministry of Health to administer the polio vaccine to children aged one to ten years.”

Below pictures: Polio vaccination programme in Gaza City. Credit Mousa Ayyad

17 SEPTEMBER

Statement calling for the protection of people deprived of their liberty in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel

Embrace is one of 31 NGOs to sign a statement calling on all UN Member States to take urgent steps to protect people deprived of their liberty across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel:

“We are calling on UN member states to ensure that the International Committee of the Red Cross is granted immediate and unfettered access to all detainees and hostages, to the full extent required by international humanitarian law.”

READ STATEMENT IN FULL

12 SEPTEMBER

Archbishop of Canterbury meets with Palestinian Christians

It was an honour for Embrace the Middle East to be invited to take part in a meeting at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday with the Archbishop of Canterbury and our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ, Pastor Munther Isaac, Dalia Qumsieh and Mays Nassar. Afterwards Archbishop Justin said:

“It was a privilege to meet and pray today with some of our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers. I praise God for their steadfastness in the face of occupation, systemic discrimination and devastating violence. I thank God for their faithfulness in the land where Christ lived, died and was raised from the dead. I am profoundly grieved by what I heard today, and I cry out to God for the war in Gaza to stop. How many more stories of families, homes and communities destroyed must we hear before this senseless killing ceases?…”

A report on the meeting and Archbishop Justin’s full statement can be found here.

10 SEPTEMBER

Update from DSPR-MECC: Mourning the loss of a dedicated colleague in Gaza

We are saddened and deeply distressed to learn of the death of one of our partner’s members of staff in Gaza. Wala’ Fathi Al-Masri, and her daughter Mira, were killed by Israeli strikes in a residential area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Her three sons were also injured.

Born in 1984, Wala’ was a mother of four and a nurse, who had worked for our partner DSPR-MECC for over 15 years. Before the war, she served in clinics in Al-Shejaiya and Al-Daraj, which were supported by Embrace. After the war broke out, Wala’ and her family were forcibly displaced to Rafah, where she served faithfully in DSPR-MECC’s Rafah clinic. On 6 May, Wala’ and her family were forced to move again as a result of the Israeli invasion of Rafah. Wala’ continued to work in mobile clinics in Khan Younis and Dair El-Balah until she was killed on Sunday 8 September.

In the words of our partner, the DSPR-MECC:

“Wala’ was a role model of resilience and kindness, always maintaining her smile and sense of humour despite the dire circumstances. Her dedication as a mother to her three sons and daughter, as well as her professionalism as a nurse, was extraordinary. As we mourn her loss, we pray for her and her daughter’s souls to rest in peace and hope that her three sons receive the medical treatment they desperately need amidst the collapse of the healthcare system.”

We ask you to join us in praying for Wala’s remaining family and her colleagues as they grieve, and for the recovery of her sons. Please also continue to pray and call for a full and immediate ceasefire, so that this cycle of violence and death may come to an end. Please continue to write to your MP and church leaders. Our latest letter templates can be downloaded here.

3 SEPTEMBER

Statement in response to the UK Government’s decision to suspend some arms licences to Israel

Following the Government’s decision to suspend some arms licences to Israel, 18 UK charities and organisations, including Embrace, have issued a statement welcoming the move but calling on the government to do more:

“The Government’s recognition of the clear risk that Israel is using UK arms in serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a welcome step forward. Given that recognition, and the clear and compelling evidence that the Israeli military is violating IHL, it is insufficient that the Government has failed to end ALL arms transfers to Israel…”

READ STATEMENT IN FULL

2 SEPTEMBER

Strikes hit near Al-Ahil Hospital and St Porphyrius Church

We are sad to report that over the weekend there were airstrikes near Al-Ahli Hospital. Our partners tell us that one missile strike hit and damaged the maintenance workshop and neighbouring structures at the hospital. Among the injured during the airstrikes was a mother and her new-born baby.

An air strike also hit buildings very close to St Porphyrius church. There were no casualties among the Christian community, but tragically it did lead to deaths, including children, among their neighbours.

30 AUGUST

We are distressed by the escalation of violence in the West Bank. Settler attacks and Israeli military raids continue to increase in frequency and intensity causing loss of life, damage to property and displacement from the land. We pray for protection for our partners as they continue to serve in the midst of it and we echo the finding of the ICJ Advisory Opinion that the occupation is illegal and must end.

Today we received this update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem, who have been forced to temporarily halt their projects in the West Bank:

“Escalating violence in the northern West Bank has forced Caritas Jerusalem to temporarily suspend field operations. The situation deteriorated after Israeli forces launched intense overnight raids in the occupied West Bank, targeting the militant strongholds of Jenin and Tulkarm. At least 10 Palestinians were killed in the raids, marking a grim escalation in a conflict that has already claimed 628 Palestinian lives since October 7, according to the UN. Despite the chaos, Caritas Jerusalem managed to complete a two-day strategic workshop in Bethlehem.  Despite the tensions, two participants from Jenin returned home safely. However, the safety of our staff remains in jeopardy. In Zababdeh, near Caritas' northern office, a car explosion and ongoing clashes have forced us to halt all field visits until the violence subsides.”

23 AUGUST

On 21 August new evacuation orders were ordered for Deir Al Balah in the central region of Gaza. Our partner NECC have offices located in adjacent blocs to the evacuation areas (with just a street between them). Three staff are sheltering in the evacuation zone and were trying to move. NECC preparing to evacuate their offices if needed. In addition to civilians having nowhere to go to, this area of Deir Al Balah hosts many offices and warehouses for humanitarian agencies which further impacts the provision of aid.

 Read more here

13 AUGUST

We have received a video update from our partner, Caritas Jerusalem. The Secretary General, Anton Asfar, speaks about Caritas’ efforts to assist the people of Gaza and the enormous challenges they face in doing so. He says: “May we never tire of defending the dignity of every man, woman and child, without distinction of religion, ethnicity or nationality.”

Watch the video update now:

12 AUGUST

Attack on Al-Taba’een School in Gaza City

We are horrified by the attack on Al-Taba’een School in Gaza City on Saturday and the tragic loss of so many lives. We pray especially today for our partner Al Ahli Hospital as their staff provide critical medical care to hundreds of people who were injured in the attack.

We continue to call on the UK Government to urgently work for an immediate ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access for those who need it, and stop exporting arms to Israel.

31 JULY

29 JULY

Miraculous Escape at St Porphyrius Church

This morning we received the following update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem:

“A potentially devastating incident was narrowly averted at St. Porphyrius Church in Gaza on July 29, 2024, when a missile fired from an Israeli battle tank failed to detonate upon impact. The missile penetrated the roof and struck a room before reaching a hall filled with internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge.

Despite the significant damage caused, the missile's failure to explode prevented a major catastrophe. Witnesses reported a shell falling from the ceiling, inciting panic and screams. Nathalie Sayegh, a Caritas Jerusalem employee present during the incident, expressed profound relief: “Thank the Lord it did not detonate, otherwise we would have been left with nothing but remnants.”

Three women were injured by the impact and debris, but no severe injuries were reported. The incident underscores the vulnerability of the displaced and the critical need for safety in conflict zones.

Caritas Jerusalem thanks the Lord for protecting the IDPs who were seeking refuge in the church compound and reiterates that nowhere is safe in Gaza. Please pray with us for an immediate ceasefire and an end to this tyranny.“ 

26 JULY

Embrace helps broker new global Christian call for a ceasefire

Embrace has been at the forefront of a new letter, signed by over 200 global Christian bishops and executive leaders urging world powers to end complicity in the ongoing violence and atrocities committed in Gaza as a part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The letter calls for an immediate permanent ceasefire, work for the release of hostages and prisoners held without due process of law alike, the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to civilians, and halting all weapons and ammunition transfers to Israel to ensure they are being used according to international law.

>> Read the letter <<

19 JULY

Embrace welcomes the resumption of UK funding to UNWRA

In response to the announcement by the UK government today, Embrace issued this statement:

“Embrace the Middle East welcomes the resumption of UK funding to UNWRA…However, funding alone and even the reforms within UNWRA will not meet the needs of our partners and the civilians trapped in what the Foreign Secretary has described as “hell on earth”. We continue to call on our Government to pursue a path of sustainable peace…”

Read the statement in full

Disability Unit at Al Ahli Hospital Reopen

We are delighted to have received the following update from our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre:

“Following the evacuation of an area in Gaza City last week, all three of our Princess Basma staff have now returned and services have resumed at our satellite unit, based in Al Ahli Hospital. We are so very glad to tell you that at our satellite unit treatment programs have resumed for children with both acute injuries and chronic conditions. Our team are treating 18 children. Many of these are families who have returned and four of these children are new patients.”

17 JULY

Update from the West Bank

Elias Najjar of the Palestinian Bible Society tells Embrace staff visiting the West Bank how life there has been affected by the war in Gaza, of the mounting challenges facing everyone there and how Palestinian Christians are responding.

15 JULY

Bombing near medical centres forces staff to evacuate

At the weekend the 14 staff of our partner Caritas Jerusalem had to evacuate their medical points at Elshafie’ Camp and Elhayat Camp in the Mawasi Khan Younis area due to bombing nearby. They told us:

“Despite the area's classification as safe and designated for humanitarian aid, occupation jets targeted it with successive missile fire around the medical units, resulting in many casualties, including deaths and injuries to children, women, pregnant women, and the elderly…

“Civilians and ambulances rushed to evacuate victims and the injured, but the response was minimal compared to the overwhelming number of casualties. The bombing left fragments and rubble strewn across the medical units and their surroundings. With the main hospital in Khan Younis out of service, the injured were left without proper medical care.

“This attack led to widespread fear and panic, forcing the evacuation of our medical units and the urgent departure of patients and medical staff to ensure their safety. This incident highlights the severe challenges and risks faced by the staff working in these medical units. They are constantly surrounded by danger, whether while moving or performing their duties, striving to help the community during these critical moments in the lives of the Palestinian people.

“We pray that this situation will end soon and that everyone will be safe and healthy.”

11 JULY

Al Ahli Hospital Partially Reopens

After having to evacuate the hospital on 7 July and stop all services, staff have been able to partially reopen the hospital today today. Very Revd Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College Jerusalem, reported:

“I am very pleased to say that despite all the odds being stacked against it, Al Ahli hospital has managed to reopen today. Our amazing and courageous staff deserve enormous credit for this. The sacred ministry of care and healing can continue.”

10 JULY

We have received confirmation from our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre that they had to suspend all their services at their satellite unit at Al Ahli Hospital since Sunday due heavy shelling nearby and the IDF order to evacuate the area. They told us:

‘Our staff have safely evacuated Al Ahli Hospital … along with patients and other staff. We await news of further developments. We are desperate to resume services at our satellite unit and will do so when regulations and safety concerns allow. We ask friends around the world, to pray with us for the ongoing safety of all our staff and for the return of all services at Al Ahli Hospital.’

The work their two therapists, Ismail (in Khan Younis) and Al Zahraa' (in Deir Al Balah), are able to continue treating children out of emergency medical posts near to where they shelter. Their social worker Musa is also able to continue his work, supporting the staff, volunteers and 18 children with disabilities at his shelter in Gaza City.

An update from St Porphyrius Church

The Christian Media Centre have released this video of the work of our partner Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem and their response to the Gaza War.

9 JULY

Holy Family School in Gaza bombed

Yesterday, we received the following update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem:

“Yesterday morning [7 July], the Holy Family School in Gaza was bombarded, causing serious destruction in the compound and resulting in civilian casualties. The school, a property of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was a place of refuge for hundreds of civilians whose homes were destroyed. They hoped against all odds that their families and children would be safe, but there is no safe place in Gaza.

There is no safe haven for these poor displaced families amid the indiscriminate bombing, shooting, and shelling, which continue without regard for places of worship, hospitals, or schools.

Caritas Jerusalem is asking its partners to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and to stop this mayhem and cruelty against the civilian population, who have no place to turn to and no one to seek help from.”

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem also released this statement:

“The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is monitoring, with grave concern, the news of the raids, apparently launched by the Israeli army against the Holy Family School at Al-Remal in Gaza this morning. Footage and media reports from the place include scenes of civilian casualties and of destruction in the compound.

While property of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Holy Family School has, since the beginning of the war, been a place of refuge for hundreds of civilians. No religious personnel reside in the school.

The Latin Patriarchate condemns in the strongest terms the targeting of civilians or any belligerent actions that fall short of ensuring that civilians remain outside the combat scene.

We continue to pray for the Lord’s mercy and hope that the Parties will reach an agreement that would put an immediate end to the horrifying bloodbath and humanitarian catastrophe in the region.”

8 July

NEW STATEMENT: Embrace calls for UK policy reset towards Gaza

Embrace is one of 20 UK NGOs to sign a statement outlining key steps the UK Government must take in its first 100 days of office to urgently reset UK Government policy towards Gaza and the West Bank. It urges the Government to live up to its moral, ethical and legal obligations under international law, and provide UK leadership that has previously been lacking. You can read the full statement here.

Join the call by writing to your MP today

Take action and ask your MP to urge the incoming government to work for peace and justice in Gaza and across the region and to take this opportunity to step up and lead on the global stage. We’ve created a letter template you can use:

An update from Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza

With escalating military activity in the Old City of Gaza City, the Al Ahli Hospital has been compelled to close by the Israeli army. On the evening of Sunday 7 July, a large amount of firing from drones occurred in the immediate vicinity of the hospital. This was immediately followed by an IDF announcement that the area had been declared a Red Zone and everyone should immediately evacuate all buildings, including the hospital. As a result, all staff and patients, as well as people sheltering in the hospital grounds, had to leave the hospital premises.

Sadly, the hospital is now unable to operate. This is at a time when there is a significant demand for its services and sick people have few other options for places to receive medical care.

In a statement from the Diocese of Jerusalem, Archbishop Hosam Naoum said: “We protest the closure of our hospital in the strongest possible terms. In a time of warfare and great suffering it is essential that emergency healthcare services are maintained to treat the injured and the dying. We appeal to the Israeli forces to permit us to continue our sacred ministry of medical care and healing. We plead for an end to the tagreting of civilians and all vulnerable people and demand all parties agree to an immediate ceasefire.”

28 JUNE

An update from the Holy Family Church, Gaza

The BBC have recently released a radio documentary telling the story of our friend George Antone. George works for our partner Caritas Jerusalem and he and his family have been sheltering in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City since the war began. You can listen to the documentary here.

14 JUNE

An update from the churches in Gaza

The two churches of Gaza City are still providing shelter for hundreds of Christians. The Holy Family Church now hosts 170 families and St Porphyrius’ Church 91 families. Both churches are facing difficulties obtaining enough food to feed the community. Vegetables and canned goods are particularly scarce. A bakery near St Pophyrius has managed to resume operations, so some bread can be bought from there, but the amount of humanitarian aid reaching northern Gaza is still limited.

Despite these challenges both churches are continuing to extend support to their neighbours. The Holy Family Church provides food and bottled water to those in need in their immediate area and St Porphyruis Church is channelling electricity from its diesel generator to the adjacent mosque, which has a water well, to pump out enough water to serve the Church and the surrounding neighbourhood.

13 JUNE

7 JUNE

New Disability Unit opens at Al Ahli Hospital

We are delighted to report that our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre have once again be able to expand their work in Gaza supporting children with disabilities. They have recruited a new general doctor, Dr Said, and a second physiotherapist, Fadi. They have also managed to clear part of their damaged unit at Al Ahli Hospital, meaning it can be safely opened and used. Dr Said and Fadi will work alongside social worker Musa from here. They will work in partnership with the Orthopaedic surgeon now operating on the children at Al Ahli Hospital. The Medical Director of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre told us:

“Timely rehabilitation prevents complications and gives children the best chance of thriving following life changing operations, especially amputations. With so many children undergoing serious orthopaedic surgery every day, we need to provide this rehabilitation in our new unit now. The need is huge." 

Physiotherapist, Ismail in Khan Younis and Occupational Therapist, Al Zahraa’, now displaced in Deir Al Balah, are also increasingly providing emergency rehabilitation to children. They are both operating out of local clinics, with the support of The Red Crescent.

4 JUNE

29 MAY

Our partner, the DSPR-NECC, was forced to close its Rafah clinic when the Israeli invasion began on 6 May. Most of the staff have now moved to the central area of Gaza, where they have started a mobile clinic. They have rented a car to transport the medical team to different locations in order to serve the medical needs of the displaced people. They have also rented a minibus, which serves as a pharmacy; after being checked by the medical team, people come to the minibus to collect their prescriptions.

The first working day for the mobile clinic was 13 May; the team served 261 patients in one day. They report that the people it is serving are living in tents in ‘a very deprived environment’. Illnesses and medical needs are many and varied, from lung infections and diarrhoea to skin diseases, minor injuries and chronic diseases.

As the Israeli invasion of Rafah widens, increasing numbers of people are being forced to flee. With many people moving towards the central region of the Gaza strip, the DSPR-NECC is planning to open another mobile clinic.

24 MAY

Al Ahli Hospital Clinic in Rafah Closed

Al Ahli Hospital has confirmed that they have had to close their clinic in Rafah due to the fighting there. Instead, they have managed to move their clinic to Khan Younis. Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City is currently able to function and is receiving about 300 patients and performing 24 surgeries per day.

West Bank Church Damaged in IDF Raid

We were shocked and sad to hear that at 4am on Sunday 19 May, the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nablus suffered damaged in an IDF raid. The soldiers appeared to be targeting the lower part of the building, which is rented from the church by Samsung. After forcing entry to the Samsung store from the street, the soldiers made their way up to the church (situated on the upper floor), damaging doors and security cameras and vandalising the parish hall. There was no advanced warning of the raid, and the IDF has given no explanation for it.

23 MAY

The small team from our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre continue to serve children with both chronic and acute disabilities in Gaza. The fighting in Rafah means that one of the team, Al Zahraa, who was sheltering in a school in Rafah, has had to relocate to shelters in Deir Al Balah. The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre tells us:

“This is the fourth move for Al Zahraa and her family since the beginning of the war. In spite of this, she is keen and ready to continue working and so the JPBC in Jerusalem have organized for her to work out of the Red Crescent clinic which is still operating and is located near where Al Zahraa is now displaced. Since January, Al Zahraa has worked intensively with 23 children and their caregivers in Rafah, each child and family receiving an intensive programme lasting one month. In her new location in Deir Al Balah she has already screened 6 children with disabilities. Our team are reporting that approximately 50% of the cases they are seeing are children with new disabilities as a result of the war, mainly burns, amputations, spinal and head injuries and fracture.”

20 MAY

Fr Gabrielle Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, has finally been able to return to Gaza after being stuck in Jerusalem for many months. Our partner Caritas Jerusalem were able to help with his return with Caritas vehicles being used for his journey! Caritas Jerusalem told us. ‘His return to Gaza has been eagerly awaited by the community, and they are overjoyed to have him back with them.’

His Beatitude Cardinal Pierre Battista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and President of Caritas Jerusalem, was able to accompany Fr Romanelli and visited both the Holy Family Church and also the community at St Porphyrius Orthodox Church, reinforcing solidarity and support among the small remaining Christian population in Gaza.