Anglican Communion News Service

One week ago the Israeli military attacked and demolished 53 Palestinian homes in Rafah, in the south of Gaza on the Egyptian border. Tanks and military bulldozers invaded Rafah refugee camp at 2 am and proceeded to destroy these homes with no provocation. The area was quiet at the time, and people were in their homes during a particularly cold spell of winter weather. Rafah is on the Mediterranean Sea, and at the same time 24 motors were confiscated from local Palestinian fishing boats and access to the sea prohibited. This attack has left over 700 people homeless, including 400 children. These families have lost all their possessions in the demolitions, and to date have been prevented from returning to the ruins of their homes to obtain possessions in the rubble. The International Red Cross and the UN (UNRWA) have responded by providing tents, clothes, blankets, and food.

Rafah is the poorest district in Palestine, and home to 137,000 people, 68% of them refugees. Unemployment ranges between 60-70%. Since the beginning of the current conflict, 82 Rafans have lost their lives, and 1160 have been injured. The latest attack brings the total of demolished homes to almost 250 homes, with an additional 120 that have been partially destroyed. This has resulted in thousands of homeless.

Mohammed Al Naka, Social Worker at Ahli Arab Hospital, spends much of his time caring for the needs of these victims. He says "we are not asking for the moon, we are asking to live a normal life like people all over the world. We want a life of freedom, to walk our streets safely, to educate our children, to live side by side with our neighbours. We are not monsters or killers. We have a right to live and to raise our children in a safe environment, where we can protect and care for them as any other parent in the world".

The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has responded! Ahli Arab Hospital is a profound illustration of the mission of the Church, and a visible expression of our concern for the community in our daily lives. Of the over one million residents of the Gaza Strip, about three thousand are Christian, yet Ahli Hospital is known and respected as a provider of the highest quality care for all the women, children and men of Gaza. The Diocese of Jerusalem is coordinating with Ahli Arab Hospital to provide every family with a food parcel worth $50. The children of Christ Church Episcopal School in Nazareth have begun today, to raise funds to purchase a sweater for every child living in a tent in Rafah.

Please keep these children and their families in your prayers, as well as the staff of Ahli Arab Hospital, the children and staff of Christ Church Episcopal School in Nazareth, and the entire region.

Photos captions:

1. Mr Mohammed Al Naka, Social Worker, Ahli Arab Hospital; in the remains of one of the homes destroyed in Rafah
2. The Rafah 'tent city'
3. Children in Rafah
4. A building damaged in the attacks in Khan Younis

Nancy Dinsmore
Development Office
Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem