An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) air strike on Palm Sunday destroyed and damaged several buildings at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. The hospital, which has at some points been the only one functioning in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, is funded and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
The IDF warned the hospital 20 minutes before the bombing, and the hospital was evacuated. No casualties were reported as a result of the attack itself, but according to a statement from the diocese of Jerusalem and a letter from Dr. Suhaila Tarazi, Al-Ahli’s director, a child died of a pre-existing head injury during the evacuation. Tarazi mentioned the child was a 13-year-old boy in a message to a WhatsApp chat group for female Anglican leaders. Archbishop Linda Nicholls, former primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, shared her message with the Anglican Journal, with Tarazi’s permission.
According to the statement from the diocese of Jerusalem, the attack demolished the hospital’s two-storey genetic laboratory and damaged the pharmacy and the emergency department buildings as well as nearby buildings including a church.
“The diocese of Jerusalem condemns in the strongest terms today’s missile attacks on the Ahli Arab Hospital,” the statement reads, adding the attack is particularly appalling because it targeted a Christian institution on Palm Sunday. “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.”
In her WhatsApp message, Tarazi wrote, “Despite the destruction, our dedicated team is working tirelessly to restore essential services and continue providing care to the community. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Al-Ahli remains a vital lifeline for Gaza City and the northern region, and we are committed to maintaining our operations to the best of our abilities.”
A Facebook post from Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College, Jerusalem added that the diocese of Jerusalem is planning for reconstruction of the hospital’s destroyed buildings and would soon make an appeal for those wishing to contribute.
Organizations including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations human rights office have accused Israel of a pattern of targeting hospitals and health care facilities. Deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities during wartime is considered a war crime, according to a 2024 report from the UN Human rights office. Article 19 of the Geneva Conventions, to which Israel is a signatory, bans attacks on healthcare facilities unless they are used as sites to “commit, outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy.” In another recent incident, IDF soldiers opened fire March 23 on an ambulance convoy and claimed the vehicles were moving “suspiciously” in the dark without turning on their flashing lights. Cell phone footage of the event taken by one of the paramedics killed in the event showed the ambulances did in fact have their identifying lights flashing.
After the April 13 air strike, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement posted on X that Hamas was operating a control centre inside Al-Ahli hospital from which it was planning and executing “terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.” It also said it took steps to mitigate harm to civilians, including using advanced warnings, precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
This is not the first time Al-Ahli hospital has been struck by an IDF attack. In two incidents in the fall of 2023, the hospital was struck by missiles which the IDF said hit it by accident. The first of these severely damaged its diagnostic cancer treatment centre, injuring four hospital staff. The second saw a missile land in a courtyard of the hospital where a large number of civilians had taken shelter, killing or injuring about 500 people. Israel blamed that explosion on a misfired rocket launched by a militant group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In December that year, the IDF raided the hospital, demolishing its outer wall with tanks, detaining most of the staff for questioning and leaving a skeleton crew of seven people to care for about 150 patients. Israel has alleged Hamas regularly operates out of schools and hospitals, using civilians as human shields. In a previous interview with the Anglican Journal, Tarazi said Al-Ahli had never been involved.
“Not at Ahli. I want to assure you of that.” she said. “I think they took our staff when they had suspicion, but they have released Ahli Arab hospital staff because they are sure that we are not a part of any political party in Gaza.”
As this story was being written, Tarazi had not yet responded to the Journal’s message asking for a new interview.
In an email to the Journal, Archbishop Anne Germond, acting primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, condemned the attack and expressed the Canadian church’s sympathy for its victims.
“The Anglican Church of Canada is horrified by Sunday’s missile attacks on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and heartbroken for the suffering of patients and employees who were forced to evacuate on very short notice. We join our partner, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms.”
Germond went on to say the Anglican Church of Canada continues its call for a ceasefire, the release of all captives, relief resources and humanitarian assistance to Gazans, an end to all arms transfers to Israel and an end to what she referred to as “the occupation.”
Israel’s position is that it no longer occupies Gaza as of 2005, when it removed its army and settlements there. However, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and other international bodies still consider Israel to be the occupying power of the Gaza Strip.
“We pray for all who were injured or otherwise affected by these attacks and ask God that they feel the presence of the wounded but Risen Christ this Easter,” Germond concluded.
AnglicanNews.org also posted several messages of solidarity from around the global Anglican Communion, including the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell; presiding bishop of the Episopal Church Sean Rowe; Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson; and the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
In the conclusion to her message to Nicholls on the WhatsApp chat group, Tarazi wrote, “Your solidarity, prayers, heartfelt thoughts and kind words are a source of strength for all of us here. We deeply appreciate your concern and support.”
