The appalling rocket blast on Tuesday evening, 17th October, in the car park at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of people sheltering there for safety, demands our attention. Whilst responsibility remains a matter of controversy, nevertheless members of the St Mary Redcliffe congregation may wish to know how to respond – as we have consistently done in the past when disasters have happened. 

Redcliffe and Al-Ahli – what is special? 

Al-Ahli Hospital was founded by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in c.1882. It was looked after for a time by the American Southern Baptist Church but eventually came under the management of the Jerusalem Bishopric; it is thus very much an Anglican institution although it is known as “the Baptist Hospital” by some. Loosely translated “Al-Ahli” means “the Family” hospital. No discrimination is made and the majority of patients are inevitably Muslim. The annual throughput is some 45,000 in-patients and out-patients. This is part of our humanitarian outreach.

Redcliffe has always sought to support the church overseas – including the Middle East. Some years ago we provided the hospital with an ECG machine and on a subsequent visit by two Redcliffe folk (when times were quiet) it was seen in use. We had thought to establish an on-going link with the hospital as a commitment to the Jerusalem Diocese but unfortunately this initiative never came to fruition. 

Damage to the hospital by a missile strike had occurred earlier in the weekend. A hole was blown in the wall of one department, injury was caused and debris was scattered about. Tuesday’s rocket fell in the car park and although the hospital buildings were at first thought to have been hit this may not have been so, but damage is clearly extensive and serious, with hundreds of people being killed. How the hospital will continue to function in the immediate future is not at present known but is likely to require a lot of outside help. This is where any appeal to Redcliffe may arise.

Gaza is said to be the most densely populated place on Earth. Its situation is desperate. The reasons for this are exceedingly complex. We at St Mary Redcliffe, although in no position to resolve these complexities, might nevertheless try to respond effectively once an appeal is made.

Martin Lee

19 October 2023

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