On Monday, the Archbishop of Canterbury joined Archbishop Hosam Naoum in protesting the closure of the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza and the attack on an ambulance vehicle. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) compelled the hospital to close amidst what is described as “escalating military activity.” An ambulance en route to the hospital was also fired upon, though the condition of the driver and patients remains unclear.
In a statement, the Diocese of Jerusalem detailed that on Sunday, drones were firing near the hospital, leading to the area being declared a “red zone” and necessitating the evacuation of everyone present. This closure poses significant risks to the sick and injured in Gaza, who are left without critical medical services at a time when the hospital’s services are in high demand.
Tim Hartley, Coordinator of Anglican Overseas Aid Disaster Response and Resilience, noted that the hospital, despite having only 80 beds, was receiving around 300 patients a day. The closure severely limits the options for urgent medical care for those in Gaza.
The Al Ahli Hospital previously attracted controversy in October 2023 due to an explosion in its courtyard that killed and injured many civilians. There was contention over whether the explosion was the result of an Israeli attack or a misfired rocket from Palestinian militants. While organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) believe the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket, HRW has documented other unlawful attacks on hospitals by Israeli forces.
The importance of protecting hospitals in conflict zones was emphasized in a 1970 UN General Assembly resolution, which asserts that areas designated for the protection of civilians, such as hospitals, should not be targeted in military operations.
Archbishop Hosam called for the Israeli forces to allow the continuation of their medical care and healing ministry:
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 targeting of civilians and all vulnerable people and demand all parties agree to an immediate ceasefire.
The Archbishop of Canterbury echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “Hospitals must be protected under international humanitarian law” and supporting the call for a ceasefire alongside the release of hostages and ensuring the safety of the people in Gaza.
For more detailed information, please refer to the original report on JURIST.