On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, the only Christian hospital in the Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the death of at least 21 people, including children, and caused extensive damage to the hospital’s emergency room, pharmacy, and surrounding buildings.
The hospital, operated by the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, has been a vital healthcare provider in the region. The Diocese condemned the attack, stating, “The Diocese of Jerusalem is appalled at the bombing of the hospital now for the fifth time since the beginning of the war in 2023 — and this time on the morning of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.”
Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church also expressed deep concern, noting that the hospital “stood as one of the last beacons of medical hope in Gaza.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted a Hamas command and control center within the hospital, alleging that Hamas used the facility to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. Hamas has denied these allegations.
International leaders have condemned the attack. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the strikes on hospitals as “deplorable” and called for an end to the violence.
The destruction of Al-Ahli Hospital exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The hospital’s closure leaves northern Gaza without a fully operational medical facility, further endangering the lives of countless civilians.
As Holy Week continues, Christian leaders worldwide are calling for immediate protection of medical and humanitarian institutions and a renewed commitment to peace in the region.
