(CP) The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem claimed Monday that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) “compelled” it to shut the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and evacuate all of the staff and patients from the ability during its ongoing war with the fear group Hamas. Military activity took place within the vicinity of the hospital on Sunday.
Responding to the allegation, the IDF told Reuters in an announcement that it ordered civilians in certain areas of Gaza City to evacuate so it could reduce potential civilian casualties because it launched recent military operations against terrorist groups. The IDF says it told Palestinian health authorities that hospitals could remain in use and there was no must evacuate.
Specifically, the IDF told civilians on Sunday to depart the Tuffah, Daraj and Old City neighborhoods of Gaza City as they launched recent operations and to go to the shelters situated on the western side of the municipality. Al Ahli is situated near Tuffah.
On Monday, the Israeli army sent out an updated announcement, based on The Times of Israel. IDF called on Palestinian civilians within the Sabra, Rimal, Tel al-Hawa and Daraj neighborhoods to evacuate because of the fighting and to go to the designated “humanitarian zone.”
Marwan al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital, reported that it received 80 patients and wounded people from Al-Ahli who needed to be packed into “every corner,” reported the Times.
“Many cases require urgent surgeries. Many cases suffer from direct shots in the pinnacle and require intensive care. Fuel and medical supplies are dwindling,” al-Sultan said, adding that his hospital received the bodies of 16 people killed within the Israeli incursion, half of whom were women and kids.
Israel began its military offensive in Gaza last October in response to Hamas, a terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launching a surprise attack in southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people. Around 240 were abducted. The Israeli government’s stated goal with the offensive is to eradicate Hamas and secure the discharge of hostages.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says that over 38,000 people have been killed in Gaza for the reason that war began but doesn’t differentiate between combatants and civilians.
In a statement on Monday, Archbishop Hosam Naoum, primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, denounced the Israeli military.
“We protest the closure of our hospital within the strongest possible terms,” said Naoum. “In a time of warfare and great suffering it is important that emergency healthcare services are maintained to treat the injured and the dying.”
Outgoing Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry also denounced the hospital’s reported forced closure and evacuation in a statement released by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs.
“This motion violates the dignity of already-vulnerable people and is against international humanitarian law,” said Curry. “Let us pray particularly for the security of the hospital’s patients and staff — and people who had been sheltering on the hospital who at the moment are displaced again.”
During its 81st General Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky, last month, the Episcopal House of Bishops rejected resolutions that will have labelled Israel an apartheid state and endorsed divestment efforts against Israel but did pass measures calling for a direct ceasefire in Gaza.
© The Christian Post
