The Heart of Gaza: Al Ahli Baptist Hospital
Read our update from Al Ahli as they continue to provide essential care in challenging times

On 17th October, 2023, we received the devastating news of a strike on our partner, Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which tragically claimed hundreds of lives. Remarkably, the hospital reopened the next day to continue treating patients.

Watch our film about Al Ahli Hospital which we made in 2017 and updated after the war began in October 2023
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Throughout the ongoing war, Al Ahli Hospital has remained operational, except for a brief closure last month when Israeli forces bombarded the surrounding area, forcing the hospital to relocate its patients temporarily. The hospital continues to face immense challenges, including severe medicine, fuel and food shortages. Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 12 are partially functioning. Additionally, 500 healthcare workers have been killed, and 179 are still being detained by Israeli forces. The staff at Al Ahli are severely overworked and exhausted.

Hospital Director Suhaila Tarazi had to leave Gaza due to health complications. Despite her absence, she continues to lead the hospital’s response and is determined to return as soon as a ceasefire is reached. She has kept us informed about how the hospital is managing and their plans moving forward.

Doctors from Al Ahli Baptist Hospital check a young boy in a make-shift field hospital in Al Mawasi
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Dr. Maher Ayyad, the hospital’s Medical Director, has been sheltering in the Orthodox Church since October, traveling to the hospital daily to lead the medical team. Despite the many challenges, they are working to resume some of the services that were halted when the fighting began. This is no small task given the shortages and the overwhelming need. The hospital, designed for 60 beds, currently has 80-100 inpatients. They also have 22,000 registered outpatients and are performing 20-30 outpatient surgeries daily for those injured in the conflict.

The hospital’s physiotherapy unit, initially repurposed as a triage center, has recently reopened. They plan to have six physiotherapists stationed there and another six working with outpatients, as the need for physiotherapy is immense. It is estimated that 10,000 people have lost limbs, and 100,000 have been injured.

They also hope to resume operations in their Intensive Care Unit (three beds) and specialist burns unit, as both are in high demand. They are collaborating with Princess Basma Hospital in Jerusalem to provide specialised care for children who have undergone amputations. Additionally, they have resumed day clinics for cancer patients in partnership with Augusta Victoria Hospital.

These clinics run twice a week for those who were previously treated by Augusta Victoria and have been unable to access care for the past ten months. Once a ceasefire is in place and the fighting ends, they plan to resume diagnostic and breast cancer services, provided that their equipment hasn’t been too severely damaged.

Patients wait to see doctors from Al Ahli
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Meanwhile, Mohammed Naqa, Head of the hospital’s social work team, has faced his own struggles. His family home in Khan Younis was destroyed by an Israeli shell, forcing him to relocate eight times — an all-too-common reality for many in Gaza.

Mohammed has been leading the hospital’s efforts in the south, where they established a primary health clinic in Rafah. Unfortunately, they had to close this clinic after Israeli forces advanced on the city. They are now operating out of Al Mawasi, a coastal area overwhelmed with people seeking shelter. From a temporary prefab building, one doctor sees 80-100 patients daily. They also provide an intensive five-day physical and psychosocial support program for 30 children at a time.

We remain committed to supporting their emergency response, particularly their physiotherapy programmes, trusting them to allocate our support where it is most needed. Both we and the hospital team are eager to resume our support for their breast cancer work once the fighting ceases.
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Update

Shortly after writing this, the UN school in Daraj was bombed, resulting in 100 deaths and many more injuries. Once again, Al Ahli was inundated with casualties. Then, on 31st August, we received word that the hospital had been hit again, with casualties reported following heavy shelling in the area.

“It was a terrifying situation. I thank God that the staff and patients are safe. However, the burns unit, pharmacy, and laboratory have all been damaged by the bombardment. I received word from Mohammed today that his nephew has been killed in Khan Younis. God be with the family.” Suhaila Tarazi, 31.8.24 (via WhatsApp)