Historically factual, Israel has a long narrative of targeting Palestinian hospitals and medical workers On, the 17^th October the world witnessed yet another heart rendering massacre, the bombardment of oldest and only Christian hospital in Gaza.  It’s one of the 22 hospitals in northern Gaza struggling to respond to the recent crisis that has seen more than 5,000 Palestinians killed and more than 15,000 wounded as Israel has targeted residential infrastructures. However, Al Ahli Arab Hospital, offering 80 beds, continues to provide some of the finest medical care available in the region. For example, Ahli runs a completely free-of-charge program for early detection of breast cancer among women above 40 years of age. In addition, the Center for Elderly Women and the Mobile Clinic Program provide free medical care and food to people from surrounding towns and villages.

Also, the Hospital was sponsoring Gaza’s first physician training for Minimally Invasive Surgery. All in all, Ahli Hospital, in a region where hardship is commonplace, stands out as a beacon of peace and hope for all the people it serves. Al-Ahli Hospital has been caring for so many, providing clean water to children who have had to drink unsafe water, caring for the young people who have suffered from casualties. As the war on Gaza started, Al-Ahli hospital also become a refuge for those who had lost their homes due to the Israel’s indiscriminate bombing. More than 5000 people and other patients who had been evacuated from other Gaza hospitals found home in Al-Ahli Hospital.  After the inhumane and barbaric attack on the hospital, more than 500 Palestinians became martyrs.

On hospital massacre, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem said: “In the strongest terms, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemns this atrocious attack that has transpired in the heart of Gaza… Hospitals, by tenets of international humanitarian law, are sanctuaries, yet this assault has transgressed those sacred boundaries.” 

The news of hundreds and hundreds of casualties is horrific and all humane human beings, their hearts were filled with sadness.  A hospital is established to be a center for compassionate and responsive to all who enters its doors. While the world is still grieving this tragedy and yearning for humanitarian care at this important time, America sends more artillery to kill more and more Palestinians.  

Hospitals must be sanctuaries to preserve human lives, not scenes of death and destruction. Bombing such institution is the highest level of disregard to humanity and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. We call for immediate cessation of hostilities, justice to the Palestinians and full rights to self-determination. Otherwise, ceasefire without justice will only postpone the problem for the near future. We must use all means at our disposal to advocate for the respect of international law and the protection of human rights. The time to speak is now.