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A Place of Healing in Gaza: The Ahli Arab Hospital

THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM

The Ahli Arab Hospital is a profound expression of the mission of the Anglican Church. Located in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, the hospital was established in 1882 by the Anglican Church Missionary Society and became a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in 1982. It is one of 22 health care facilities in Gaza to serve a population of 1.5 million people, and it is the oldest hospital in Gaza. Ms. Suhaila Tarazi, the hospital director, says, "Ahli Arab Hospital is a place of love, real love in action. As Christians we must express this love to all people without discrimination. Jesus was a healer and loved to help the needy, as we are called to do at Ahli."

GAZA-PAST AND PRESENT

Gaza lies on one of the oldest highways in the world on the Mediterranean coast. It was on the strategic caravan route between Asia and Africa for centuries well before the arrival of Christianity or Islam. It was occupied in Biblical times by the Canaanites and in the 15th century BCE it became a chief city of the Philistines from which the name Palestine is derived. In the New Testament, Acts 8:26, the disciple Philip is sent to Gaza from Jerusalem and is instrumental in the conversion and baptism of the Ethiopian who took the gospel to Africa.

Gaza, like the rest of Palestine, has survived occupation by the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Ottomans, and the British. In 1948, Gaza City was a thriving coastal city of Palestine, approximately 40 miles from Jerusalem. Then, on May 15, 1948, passage of the U.N. Resolution 181 created the State of Israel, designating 56% of the land of Palestine for the State of Israel. The remaining 44% was designated to be a Palestinian State with Jerusalem an international city. Immediately, Israelis began expelling 750,000 Palestinians from homes and villages that were located within the new Israeli state. More than 400 Palestinian villages were destroyed or confiscated. The refugees comprised 60% of the Palestinian Christians and 70% of the Palestinian Muslims.

Fifty-nine refugee camps were established by the U.N. to serve those who had no place to go; 200,000 homeless Palestinians went to Gaza causing a critical situation for the 80,000 inhabitants living there. More refugees fled to Gaza after the 1967 War. Today, eight refugee camps still house 468,000 of the 686,000 U.N. registered refugees in the Gaza Strip. In all, 1.5 million people are now enclosed in Gaza, a narrow strip of land on the Mediterranean, only 139 square miles, less than one fifth the size of Delaware which has a comparable population.

Following the 1967 War, Israel began its occupation of the remaining Palestinian land, establishing 21 settlements within Gaza for 8,000 Israelis, thus violating U.N. resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention (Article 147). The settlements occupied 76 times more land per capita than the Palestinian population and controlled the coast, the borders, the economy, the air, the sea and water use. Palestinian protests or uprisings, the Intifadas of 1987 and 2000, brought down even harsher measures by the Israeli Occupation Forces, including continuous bombings, targeted assassinations, destruction of homes and the death of many residents, including hundreds of children. After the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1990, a new airport was built but later destroyed along with other new developments, including 500 new shops and stores in Gaza City.

Israeli punitive policies and actions caused loss of jobs and restrictions on travel both within and outside of the Gaza Strip. In 2002, Dr. Viveca Haszboun Ninos, a psychiatrist and director of the Guidance and Training Center in Jerusalem, reported that 45% of the people living in Gaza were suffering from malnutrition, 54% of the population were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 54% of the children were experiencing bedwetting, and 13% of the children had serious mental disorders.

THE AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL

Entrance to Ahli Arab Hospital In the midst of this turbulence, we find the Ahli Arab Hospital, located on a busy street in the center of the city of Gaza in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, a welcoming and peaceful compound of whitewashed buildings and small church. St. Philip's Episcopal Church was built in the early 1900's and is in the center of the hospital complex. It was re-consecrated in1996 in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Presiding Bishop of the U S, and 36 other primates of the Anglican communion. Although it has been many years since the Israeli military has allowed a resident Arab priest in Gaza City, the building had been the center for a small congregation and used by the 13 Christians on the hospital staff.

During the early morning of January 24, 2003 St. Philip's Church was severely damaged by a TOW guided missile launched from an Apache helicopter. The guided missile, which entered through the roof, shattered the church's stained glass windows and left the church unstable. The explosion damaged the hospital as well, shutting down the generator, shattering hospital windows, damaging the pediatric clinics, the laboratory, the physical therapy building, and several other areas. It also rendered inoperative the X-ray machine, which was replaced at a cost of $160,000. The missile attack was both a physical and emotional blow to the staff, coming at a time of intense bombing in northern Gaza with increased demands on the hospital for the injured brought to the hospital. One elderly patient died of fright.

Later the same day tanks surrounded the hospital so that no one could enter or leave. Dr. Nabila, an internist at the hospital, whose apartment complex was bombed and destroyed as well, remarked, "Ahli Arab Hospital is like a small family; we all feel connected. I have been through so many attacks, but never imagined our hospital would be hit, or this church. It is a holy place. We are strong, we will survive."

In a surprising unilateral move in August 2005, the Israeli government forcibly removed the 8,000 settlers from Gaza and dismantled their settlements. Palestinians were both jubilant and skeptical, with good reason. As the Rev. Naim Ateek, Director of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center warned in the Fall 2005 issue of Cornerstone, "The pullout does not indicate the end of the occupation of the Gaza Strip, as Israel continues to control all access in and out of the Occupied Gaza Strip, both for people and goods."

Samira Farah, assistant director of the Ahli Arab Hospital, made this report to the diocese in October, 2005. "Less than one month following the Israeli Occupying Forces' (IOF) redeployment from the Gaza Strip, IOF escalated their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the Gaza Strip. This escalation proves that IOF continue to substantially occupy the Gaza Strip, despite the recent evacuation of Israeli settlements." In addition, IOF launched a series of mock aerial raids, terrifying the Palestinians and damaging their property. Children have been particularly affected by the frightening noises that frequently occur during the night and in the morning when they are walking to school. An increase in miscarriages among the women is also attributed to the deafening noises.

With the 2006 election of a Hamas-led government, conditions in Gaza began to deteriorate further. The borders of Gaza were closed, preventing money, food, and supplies, including medical supplies, from being brought in. There were even fewer jobs and less income for the employed, including medical personnel. And then in the summer a family enjoying a day on the beach was killed with a stray bomb. As Hamas retaliated with rockets into Israel and the capture of an Israeli solder, bombing and other punitive measures were intensified.

Today the hospital, like all medical facilities in Gaza, is overwhelmed with treating casualties, both physical and emotional, as well as other ongoing medical conditions. At the same time they are experiencing dwindling medical resources and other basic necessities of operating a hospital. A July 19, 2006, report from the Diocese of Jerusalem include these following excerpted messages, some almost frantic in tone.

MESSAGE FROM SUHAILA TARAZI, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR

This is the worst situation we have ever had here in Gaza: politically, socially, and economically. Everything is in deterioration. And what is even worse is that we cannot see any hope. Mrs. Suhaila Tarazi, hospital director

Gaza is under a complete siege. We are running out of medicine. I am really afraid that if we do not get what we urgently need at the hospital for our medical stocks and our operating theatre we will stop operating. The severe shortage of medicine and infusion is our greatest problem.

We are suffering from the bombardment of the main power station in Gaza. It has its effect on people and on our hospitals. We have electricity from five to eight hours maximum a day, which means a shortage of electricity of between 16 to 19 hours a day. Now imagine any hospital in the world without electricity. And even though at times we have electricity, it never comes in one go, but comes and goes unpredictably.

Yesterday, I had 300 underweight children because their parents had heard that we offer food supplies. We had to tell them, "Sorry, we have no milk. There is no dry milk in the market." There is a big problem with water. Many children are suffering from diarrhea.

There is a real danger of contaminated water, because the sewage goes directly into the water if there is no electricity to clean the water. . . .We are really afraid of cholera, especially in areas of high population with no water. We have a severe shortage of the cash revenues from our patients. This becomes even more of a problem because we have to increase the number of staff for emergencies to be ready for any mass casualties. The Mobile Clinics had to be cancelled because of the current crisis, but the hospital hopes to start them again next week, if the situation gets better. Two of the areas our Mobile Clinics serve were invaded seriously, so many times during the last two weeks it was impossible to get there. . . .The clinics need a lot of preparation, and each area has its special needs.

Shrapnel from nearby explosions are causing severe burns and injuries. . . .Many people, among them are children. . . . with lost hands and limbs and severe burns. . . .The hospital has repeatedly suffered from damage caused by sonic bombs. There is no single item of our infra-structure left without any damage. . . .It is a real catastrophe here.

What is hurting us most is that the international family is closing its eyes to what is going on here."

THE RT. REV. RIAH ABU EL-ASSAL ANGLICAN BISHOP IN JERUSALEM

The situation of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip is a grave danger. The operating rooms in the hospitals are full. . . .Many operating theatres will stop functioning if necessary supplies do not reach the hospitals within the next week.

In a July 25 letter he adds, "Garbage and sewage have created a likely outbreak of cholera. . . .There is no milk. Drinking water, food, and medicine are in short supply. Innocents are being killed and dying from lack of available emergency care. . .Commerce between the West Bank and Gaza has been halted, and humanitarian aid barely trickles in to some of the neediest in the world. On Saturday we will attempt to enter Gaza with medical aid for doctors and nurses in our hospital there who struggle to serve the injured, the sick, and the dying."

THE PRESSING NEEDS OF THE HOSPITAL

During such times of violence, the hospital receives casualties from a number of heavily populated neighborhoods, including two of the largest refugee camps. On a regular basis, the hospital serves several hundred men, women, and children in its out-patient services, including general medicine clinics, surgery, pediatric, obstetrics/gynecology and urology clinics. The hospital also has emergency and ambulance service 24 hours a day. Over 23,000 outpatients are treated annually; another 6,000 in-patients are treated each year in the general medicine clinics, surgical and maternity wards, and an intensive care unit. The hospital's rehabilitation department is rated the best in all Gaza.

As the film and latest reports from the hospital reveal, there are shortages of almost everything. The annual operating budget is $2.4 million with an average deficit of $700,000. Ahli Arab patients have little or no income due to job losses throughout the area and inability to travel outside Gaza for work. The average Gazan lives on a dollar a day and cannot afford the medical care they desperately need. In its 2005 annual report, the Jerusalem Diocese reported, "Because of the ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip, the Ahli Arab Hospital has suffered with its community throughout the years. However, the work of healing in the name of Christ continues to the present day as the staff at the hospital demonstrate love in action."

A January 2006, report of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem listed these pressing needs of the hospital and their projected costs at that time: Outreach clinic $4,107 Food support for 100 families $9,058 Nephroscope $4,440 Resectoscope $1,110 Ultrasonic machine with probe $8,880

Additionally, as the director states in the film, there is need for medicines, operating instruments, and help in meeting the annual $700,000 deficit of its modest budget. Given the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza today, funds for medicine and food supplies are perhaps the most immediate need. Beyond that there are needs for building repair, medical staff salaries, aid to the homeless-the hospital and the villages and refugee camps it serves are in need of everything!

There is no question that the level of demand on the services of Ahli Arab Hospital will remain exceedingly high. The political and military challenges that the Palestinian Authority faces in Gaza, and the long-range rebuilding and economic revival of the Gaza Strip will make continuous demands on the hospital which is a unique and courageous Christian presence in the lives of Gazan Palestinians.

The film "A Place of Healing in Gaza" was made to highlight the courageous and committed work of the Ahli Arab Hospital in the embattled Gaza Strip, Palestine, and to seek recognition and support from U.S. Episcopalians, Christians of other denominations, and all others concerned with the delivery of medical services to persons living under occupation and without means to afford the care they dearly need.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide to persons showing the film sufficient information to introduce the film and be prepared to lead a discussion following the film. Please feel free to make copies of this handout and the DVD. If you have questions or wish further information, please contact me by email: ehartwell@austin.rr.com, or telephone: 512-443-3170. I would be pleased to furnish you with additional information and recommend books, periodicals, and web pages that would expand the information of this booklet.

In addition, I know that the director of the Ahli Arab Hospital would welcome letters and emails from those who wish to convey personal messages of support. Palestinians rightly feel that the world, and particularly Americans, do not know what they are experiencing under occupation. Contact her at: Mrs. Suhaila Tarazi, Director, Ahli Arab Hospital, P. O. Box 72, Gaza, Palestine, or by email: suhaila@palnet.com.

Thank you for your interest and support and for sharing this film and story with others.

The Rev. Edward Hartwell, retired Episcopal priest, Member, St. James' Episcopal Church, Austin Coordinator for St. James' Partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem