Our partners are directly affected by, and have been responding to, the Israel-Hamas conflict. We are in regular contact with our partners in the region and, on this page, we will continue to share updates, and prayer requests as they come in. We also have a dedicated prayer page.
CRISIS APPEAL: The long-term damage of the war in Gaza on a physical, psychological and structural level is immense, and it has also hugely affected the West Bank, Israel and the wider region. Its impact will be felt for decades to come. Embrace’s partners have been providing vital humanitarian support throughout the war and will continue to do so. Please also give what you can to our Christmas Appeal. Your generosity will mean our partners can get help to where it is needed most.
31 DECEMBER 2025
An update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem in response to Israel’s announcement that it will stop dozens of aid organisations working in Gaza
Caritas Jerusalem have released the below statement, confirming that ‘Caritas Jerusalem will continue its humanitarian and development operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, in accordance with its mandate.’ Please continue praying for and supporting our partners as they serve in Gaza:
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Statement by the Spokesperson, Jerusalem 31 December 2025
With reference to the list of organisations denied re-registration due to the expiration of the interim period, the following must be emphasised:
Caritas Jerusalem is a humanitarian and development organisation operating under the umbrella and governance of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land.
In Israel, Caritas Jerusalem is an Ecclesiastical Legal Person, whose status and mission have been recognised by the State of Israel through the 1993 Fundamental Agreement and the subsequent 1997 Legal Personality Agreement signed between the Holy See and the State of Israel.
Caritas Jerusalem has not undertaken any re-registration process with the Israeli authorities.
Caritas Internationalis does not implement or conduct any direct interventions within the country.
Caritas Jerusalem will continue its humanitarian and development operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, in accordance with its mandate.
Merry Christmas and a Peaceful, Prosperous New Year
Farid Jubran, Adv. Spokesperson, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
15 DECEMBER
“Spreading hope is a profound challenge, but we will never tire” – An advent message from Jerusalem
“While critical aid like food and fuel is being distributed [in Gaza], essential items such as electric generators and ready-made clinics are often denied entry. Israel’s restrictions continue to block major reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, though limited repairs, such as to communication lines, are ongoing…”
8 DECEMBER
Update from the churches in Gaza
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, many families from the Christian community have fled Gaza, taking any opportunity they could to secure safety for their family. But a few hundred still remain; most are still living in the compounds of the two churches inside Gaza city, where they took shelter at the outbreak of war. Staff from our partner Caritas Jerusalem are among them.
The churches are near to the so-called ‘yellow line’ – the border behind which IDF troops withdrew to as part of the ceasefire agreement – and they tell us that bombings in their neighbourhood are still a nightly occurrence. Although the churches have not been targeted, the experience of strikes landing so close is still horrendous – in the words of a Caritas staff member:
“They do not sound like explosions anymore. They are so powerful and so close that what we hear is— the sound of obliteration — as entire blocks are levelled. The shockwaves are so strong that our doors and windows burst open, even when the strikes are a distance away.”
On Saturday, a strike hit just 500m from the Holy Family Church. Fr Gabriel shared the video on Instagram.
5 DECEMBER
Our partners describe conditions in Gaza as “a war after a war”
All our partners in Gaza are telling us of the incredibly difficult conditions there. Although some aid is now getting in, it is not nearly enough to cover the overwhelming need. As temperatures drop, families are facing a daily struggle to survive. Yesterday we brought you an update from our partner the DSPR ,who told us that “the siege on Gaza remains suffocating”; today, we received this stark assessment from Caritas Jerusalem:
“Although the war is officially over, our colleagues describe the current reality as a “war after the war.” Food has become somewhat more available — fruits, vegetables, frozen goods, and nuts can now be found — yet prices remain extremely high and beyond the reach of most families.
Housing is the biggest suffering for families. Entire neighbourhoods are completely destroyed — empty, uninhabitable, lifeless. Tents offer little protection, especially with winter conditions, and our colleagues report seeing heartbreaking scenes every day in the streets…Hunger, cold, illness, and the lack of basic necessities continue to place enormous pressure on everyone…
As long as there is no clarity on who will govern Gaza, insecurity remains the greatest concern. The opening of crossings, the flow of aid, the availability of medicine and food, the price of fuel — all of these depend on who will take control in the coming period.
Despite the immense challenges, our teams continue to serve with courage and dedication. We remain at their side, committed to bringing hope and relief wherever possible.”
4 DECEMBER
LIFE IN GAZA AFTER THE CEASEFIRE
“As winter sets in, the hardship grows even more severe, more than half of Gaza’s population is living in tents or beneath the remains of destroyed homes, many of which have already flooded from the rain…” Our partner the DSPR give an update on the situation in Gaza and their continuing work on the ground there.
28 NOVEMBER
To mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November), our partner Caritas Jerusalem have released a statement reiterating the immense and long-term need that they are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank and calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and uphold justice, equality, and the protection of all civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. We fully endorse their statement.
“…The physical devastation across our land is immense, but the psychological destruction runs even deeper. An entire generation of children has been traumatized. Countless families carry invisible wounds that will take decades to heal. Many people have been left with permanent physical disabilities, drastically changing the course of their lives. Rebuilding Gaza—and rebuilding life across the West Bank and Jerusalem – is not only about reconstructing homes, hospitals, and schools; it is about rebuilding a society that has endured unimaginable pain.
“Throughout these dark times, Caritas Jerusalem has remained – and will remain – by the side of the Palestinian people. We understand that recovery is not a moment but a long and demanding journey. It will take extraordinary perseverance, patience, and solidarity to support families as they rise again, step by step, from the devastation.
“…We are profoundly grateful for you – our partners, friends, and supporters – who have stood with us and amplifi ed our efforts. Your solidarity has carried us through some of the most challenging moments in our history.
On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we renew our call to the international community to ensure sustained humanitarian support and long-term recovery plans, and to protect the dignity and rights of displaced families who continue to live in temporary shelters…” READ THE STATEMENT IN FULL
27 NOVEMBER
West Bank Update
Embrace’s Gloria Leccese-Debney was on UCB Radio yesterday, speaking about the unfolding situation in the West Bank. You can listen to her interview here.
26 NOVEMBER
hereyer in response to news of new IDF campaign in the West Bank
We’ve released a new statement, following the news that Israel have launched a new military campaign in the West Bank. We also ask that you join us in praying for peace:
God of justice and peace
We bring before you the children of the land we call holy.
Those whose laughter is silenced by fear,
whose dreams are interrupted by night raids, hand-ties and weapons,
and whose childhood is taken in the shadow of conflict.
You know each name, each face, each story.
Hold them close when they are far from home,
comfort them when they are alone or afraid,
and shield their hearts from despair.
God of hope, we pray that justice will roll down like waters in the West Bank,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,
so that all who call the land of the Holy One home
can live without fear.
Amen.
INCREASED MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS IN WEST BANK – VISIT REPORT
Our team have recently visited the West Bank and in our latest blog Gloria describes what she witnessed during her time there, including the ever increasing number of checkpoints and restrictions on movement:
24 NOVEMBER
Airstrike in southern Beirut hits close to our partners’ centres
Last night, Israel’s airstrike on southern Beirut hit close to neighbourhoods where our partners serve and near two of our partners’ centres. At least 5 people were killed and 28 injured in the attack, which Israel says was targeting a senior Hezbollah commander. Our partners say that people are shocked and frightened that airstrikes are once again falling so close to their homes and are fearful of what will come next. Please join us in prayer:
Lord of comfort and peace
We cry out to you in response to the renewed Israeli airstrikes in Beirut.
We pray for all those directly impacted by last night’s strike
And those now living in fear of what comes next.
We pray for restraint and for all sides to adhere to the ceasefire.
Be close to our partners in Beirut and give them strength as they continue to serve those in need amid these uncertain times.
We ask this in the name of the Prince of Peace.
Amen
A MOTHER IN GAZA REUNITED WITH HER INFANT SON
Badly injured in an Israeli airstrike moments after giving birth, Aisha was separated from her new baby. For months she feared he had been killed.
A 2025 talk by Daniel Munayer, Executive Director of Embrace’s partner Musalaha, an organization dedicated to teaching, facilitating, and training reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
12 NOVEMBER
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM GAZA
“My name is George and I work with children with disabilities at the Princess Basma satellite unit in Gaza City. This year has been so very hard for us…”
30 OCTOBER
Airstrikes hit perilously close to medical centres in Gaza
Yesterday our partners in Gaza once again faced intense airstrikes in what the IDF said was a response to a Hamas attack on their soldiers. The staff of Caritas Jerusalem reported that the strikes hit perilously close to their medical centre in Gaza City:
‘The shelling was so heavy that it shook the entire building, causing several windows to fall off — fortunately, they were repaired immediately. Similar bombardments occurred in Deir al-Balah, near our medical point in Al-Birkeh area. Thankfully, no casualties were reported in either location, and operations have since returned to normal.
Despite the ongoing “ceasefire,” which is, quite paradoxically, still officially “in force,” yesterday’s incidents are yet another stark reminder of the fragile reality on the ground.’
We pray for the safety of our partners as they continue to work amid these unstable and incredibly difficult conditions. And we call for all sides to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire and to continue to work for a just and sustainable peace.
29 OCTOBER
We have received a situation update on Gaza from our partner Pontifical Mission for Palestine including an update on the Christian community. It was written yesterday so, just before the Israeli attacks last night.
Gaza latest
A different struggle now begins for the Gazans returning to their demolished homes. Israel has made life impossible in an effort to push them out, yet for two years, the people have held fast. They remain, but amidst near-total destruction: no infrastructure, no schools, no water, no homes, no electricity, no hospitals, no hygiene.
Food is scarce. For two years, the children have had no education.
Between the start of the ceasefire and October 21st, over half a million (533,000) people were displaced.
Regarding the Gaza Strip as a whole, planning any large-scale intervention remains extremely challenging as long as Israel maintains control over the borders and holds a veto on all access. Critical questions remain unanswered: Will reconstruction truly be allowed? Will essential materials and supplies be granted entry? Or will we see a repetition of the post-2014 war, where no serious reconstruction was permitted?
Gaza’s Christian Community
The recent ceasefire has offered only limited relief to Gaza’s Christian community, along with the various communities in the north of the Strip, which is now challenged by a profound, multi-layered struggle for survival.
The most immediate threat is famine, as humanitarian aid such as food, has only just begun to trickle into the Gaza Strip. With their neighbourhoods mostly destroyed, the Christian families in Gaza who remain are displaced and homeless, relying nearly entirely on the Holy Family Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius for refuge. This dependence is stretching the churches’ limited resources and fragile security to a breaking point. Adding to their vulnerability, the collapsed healthcare system leaves the community vulnerable to injury and illness.
West Bank
In the West Bank, picking olives is becoming a serious challenge for thousands of farmers and landowners. Following two years of COVID and two years without tourism or income for hundreds of thousands of workers, the Olive Season has become the only source of income for thousands of families. The Settler attacks have been destroying and uprooting trees, preventing farmers from picking olives, stealing olives and prohibiting Palestinians from access to their lands.
Hundreds of families have left already. From Bethlehem, around 180 Christian families have left; no clear figures on the Muslim families. In Taybeh, 12 families have left – almost 5% of the pollution of this small Christian town.
“In the midst of all of this injustice, uncertainty and migration, spreading hope and reaching out to people becomes an extremely challenging task to which we remain faithful.“
24 OCTOBER
We are thankful for the continuing of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, but our partners there are still facing extremely challenging conditions. Caritas Jerusalem tell us that many of their staff are currently unable to return to the north of Gaza due to the unsafe and uninhabitable conditions. They have, however, been able to reopen their main medical centre there (even though it has been damaged by shelling). In the south of Gaza, where the majority of their staff remain, they have 7 medical points open, but they tell us:
“Overall, the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic, particularly with regard to food insecurity… To date, no large-scale reconstruction efforts have begun [and] promised temporary shelters have not materialized.
“Only a few humanitarian organizations continue to operate, employing small numbers of local staff… Even under the ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade and the opening of aid corridors are urgently needed.”
22 OCTOBER
An update from Gaza
Throughout the 2-years of war, the Princess Basma Team in Gaza continued to provide specialist support and therapy for children with disabilities. We have received this uplifting update from them. We continue to be humbled and inspired by their unfailing steadfastness, hope and compassion:
“Earlier this month, five of our Gaza staff were displaced to the south and worked out of their temporary shelters, whilst our remaining staff worked out of our unit in Gaza City. Even in this extreme emergency, our team, ‘together’ in different geographical locations treated 76 beneficiaries in the first week of October. When a ceasefire entered into force across the Gaza strip on 10th October, our displaced team immediately started to return. It was a momentous, hard and hopeful time – and it still is.
Our eight members of our Gaza team are back in full force, welcoming back children and families to their services. Five of our team have started a program of work with 11 children with disabilities at a home run by sisters in a local church in Gaza. With malnutrition in Gaza and because children with disabilities are especially vulnerable, we are in the process of recruiting a nutritionist.
We are deeply grateful for all the international grants, donations and appeals that have sustained our work in Gaza since its beginning in October 2023; for the many faithful individuals and partners who have not given up on us or on them during these hardest of times.”
21 OCTOBER
LIFE IN LEBANON A YEAR ON FROM THE WAR
During the autumn of 2024, the Israel-Hezbollah war turned life upside down for many of Lebanon’s citizens, but what has life been like since the ceasefire? Have things been able to return to normal or are there lasting scars? We’ve the latest updates from our partners in Lebanon.
14 OCTOBER
Update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza
Following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Dr Maher, Medical Director of our partner Al Ahli Hospital, sent us this video update about the continuing work of the hospital and the immense challenges they still face.
An update from the Caritas Jerusalem team in Gaza
Throughout the war, the Caritas Jerusalem team in Gaza have been providing vital healthcare and psychological support at their medical points, as well as supporting families with cash assistance for food and other essentials, which Embrace has been helping to fund. They sent us this update:
9 OCTOBER
Responses from partners and church leaders to news of Gaza peace deal announcement
Response from Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and President of Embrace’s partner Caritas Jerusalem, shared this message following the announcement, saying “we hope that this is just the beginning of a new phase where we can little by little start thinking not about war, but about how to rebuild after the war”:
Response from Partners in Gaza
Embrace partner Caritas Jerusalem has been serving in Gaza throughout the war, in particular, providing vital primary medical care at medical stations across the strip. They told us:
“We welcome this announcement with gratitude and hope. We are awaiting details on the opening of all humanitarian corridors for aid delivery, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand beside the people of Gaza as they begin the long journey of healing, recovery, and rebuilding.
“Our Secretary General, Mr. Anton Asfar, expressed his deep relief and hope upon hearing the news of the agreement to end the war and release prisoners, detainees, and abductees from both sides:
“This morning we woke up to the news of the agreement ending the war and releasing prisoners, detainees, and abductees from both sides. All our colleagues in Gaza are overjoyed with the news, and they are very keen on helping all those afflicted by the war — the patients, the casualties, and the grief-stricken in Gaza. In the coming phase, we are looking forward to rebuilding people’s souls in the Holy Land, and specifically in Gaza.”
Statement from UK bishops
Embrace patrons, Bishop Rachel and Bishop Christopher have released a statement along with fellow bishops welcoming the Gaza peace deal, praying that it will “bring immediate relief and comfort” but also saying there now needs to be a “fundamental shift in attitudes and behaviour” to secure long-term peace:
“We hope and pray that today’s agreement will bring immediate relief and comfort to those imprisoned and held hostage, to those who are hungry and homeless and to those fearful for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. After two years of unimaginable death and destruction now is the time for all parties to turn away from war and commit to peace…” Read the statement in full
Embrace’s statement in response to news that the first phase of the Gaza peace deal has been agreed
Embrace the Middle East welcomes news of an agreement on the first step of a Gaza ceasefire plan and prays, along with our partners, that it marks a step toward ending the violence and suffering endured by civilians in Gaza, and the return of all Israeli hostages to their loved ones.
Our partner, Caritas Jerusalem, shared with us this morning, “All our colleagues in Gaza are overjoyed with the news, and they are very keen on helping all those afflicted by the war — the patients, the casualties, and the grief-stricken in Gaza.”
While we share in the initial joy of this agreement, we know the humanitarian crisis will continue long after the deal is signed. There must be an immediate end to the bombing and fighting and immediate unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza.
We grieve the many lives lost in this war and the long-term damage done in Gaza on a physical, psychological and structural level is beyond what we can imagine. A just and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians requires ensuring accountability for the grievous crimes committed during the conflict and that the root causes of the conflict be addressed, including an end to the blockade and illegal occupation of all the Palestinian territories and Palestinians being given the right to self-determination.
8 OCTOBER
Reconciliation work continues
In these days of conflict, the reconciliation work of Embrace partner Musalaha remains a vital source of hope. Embrace supports their work in bringing together Jewish Israeli and Christian Palestinian women from the West Bank to build bridges and work together for an end to the occupation. But they have also been responding to the growing community tensions within Israel. They sent us this update:
“At the beginning of September, Musalaha brought together 11 Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Muslims and Christians from the mixed cities of Lydd and Ramle to Wadi Rum in Jordan for the first time. After a week of violence and tension in their cities, the desert provided a safe space to step away, reflect, and begin discussing the obstacles that prevent reconciliation. The weekend centered on two workshops: Obstacles to Reconciliation and Conflict. In both sessions, participants navigated difficult conversations, challenging their abilities to actively listen. A highlight was watching the group grow in respect for one another as they surfaced issues old and new while still learning from each other. Throughout the weekend, it became clear that these participants genuinely care about Lydd and Ramle and long for a better future for all who live there.”
7 OCTOBER
It has been 2 years of intensified violence, fear and death across the Middle East. Please join us in prayer for everyone who has been affected.
6 OCTOBER
As Israel and Hamas hold indirect peace talks in Egypt today, we pray the negotiators would have a commitment to ending the war and ensuring a just and peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis. Specifically, please join us in praying for:
- An immediate and permanent end to the fighting in Gaza
- The swift and safe release of all hostages
- Agreement on a path forward for Gaza that protects and upholds the rights of those who live there
- Embrace’s local partners in Gaza, serving those in need amid danger and uncertainty
22 SEPTEMBER
Partners forced to close medical points in northern Gaza because of intensifying IDF assault
Our Partner Caritas Jerusalem have had to close all their medical points in northern Gaza because it has become too dangerous to continue. They sent us this update:
“Israeli forces have intensified military operations in northern Gaza over the past week, creating grave risks for our staff. For their safety, we have suspended operations at five of our ten medical points, including our main Medical Center in Al-Shatei’ Refugee Camp. All northern facilities are closed until further notice. Our teams remain active in the south, where displaced families are gathering, and continue to deliver urgent, lifesaving healthcare through five medical points.”
Throughout this conflict, Caritas Jerusalem have only closed their medical points a handful of times. To close all their points in northern Gaza shows the horrific level of violence and destruction now unfolding there and its apparent indiscriminate nature.
Embrace the Middle East’s statement in response to UK Government’s Recognition of a state of Palestine:
“The UK Government’s recognition of a Palestinian state is long overdue. For decades, the Palestinian people have been denied their basic rights to freedom, dignity, and self-determination. Recognition alone, however, will mean little without further urgent and concrete action.
“Our partners across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue to live and serve in the midst of devastation, oppression, and denial of fundamental rights. State recognition alone, without being followed by concrete actions, does not change the day-to-day reality that they are facing. True change requires an immediate end to the war in Gaza and an end to the illegal occupation of the West Bank. Anything less condemns millions of Palestinians to continued suffering and undermines the very prospects of peace that recognition is meant to affirm.
“The UK Government must follow through with decisive actions to ensure a just and peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis. The UK Government must keep pushing Israel to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza and unfettered humanitarian aid. The UK Government must also take action against the protracted illegal occupation of the West Bank by banning investment in and trading with settlements and publish its overdue response to the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024.”
16 September
Update from Gaza as Israeli forces begin major assault on Gaza City
With the situation in Gaza City becoming increasingly dangerous for civilians due to the latest Israeli military assault, we’ve had updates from our partners on the ground there. They tell us that many citizens are leaving what shelter they have and fleeing – but that there is fear that, even if they make it south, they will find no safety there either.
The team at the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre (JPBC) tell us that their disability unit at Al Ahli Hospital is currently still open:
“Yesterday our multi-disicplinary team together treated 15 children with chronic conditions and post-acute injuries and delivered 34 interventions…The team are continually weighing up the situation there on the ground, staying informed as they can and endeavouring to make impossible decisions about what and where is most safe.”
Many of the team say that their work is something that gives them hope and strength. Al Zahraa, the Occupational Therapist at the unit, said: “My work with these children moves my focus away from the relentless daily challenges of war, towards building hope and solidarity, united with the people we serve.”
The bravery, compassion and resilience of the Jerusalem Princess Basma staff, and all our partners in Gaza is incredible, but the situation unfolding around them is catastrophic. Please keep them and all they serve in your prayers.
15 September
Embrace issues warning that Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sentence
Embrace the Middle East is one of 45 humanitarian and civil society organizations who have issued a joint statement warning that Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sentence and calling on unrestricted access for aid and humanitarian operations:
“Intensified Israeli military attacks on Gaza City and forced displacement orders for the entire city are leaving families with an impossible dilemma: flee and risk death on the road and in overcrowded displacement areas, or stay and face relentless bombardment in their shelters. Starvation and siege await them regardless…” READ STATEMENT IN FULL
10 September
Another medical centre damaged in Gaza
Embrace joins our partner Caritas Jerusalem in condemning an attack the Polio and Artificial Limb Centre in Gaza. Caritas Jerusalem, who work closely with the centre, reported that it sustained severed damage in the attack on Sunday:
“At the time of the strike, the Centre was fully operating, with around 100 people inside. All of them managed to flee the building in time and survived. The attack destroyed parts of the Center’s infrastructure, equipment, and service rooms: windows were blown out, solar panels were torn off, and essential equipment was scattered and damaged.”
Staff have subsequently managed to repair and reopen the centre, which provides vital humanitarian services for amputees and patients with paralysis. Caritas Jerusalem added:
“We urgently call on the international community to ensure the protection of such institutions and aid workers to guarantee the continuation of essential services to those in greatest need.”
9 September
Embrace statement in response to Gaza City evacuation order
“Embrace the Middle East is deeply concerned by the intensifying attacks on Gaza City and the latest evacuation orders. The continued escalation puts an already devastated civilian population under unbearable strain and further endangers the lives and work of our local partners, who continue to provide healthcare, mental health support and emergency aid despite the risks that they face.
The people of Gaza need increased humanitarian aid and protection, not more displacement and destruction. We continue to call for both sides to work for an immediate ceasefire, release of the hostages and unfettered access of humanitarian aid. This must stop now and we call on the UK government and the international community to take immediate action.”
8 September
Since the beginning of the year, Caritas Jerusalem’s team of medics in Gaza have given over 21,000 medical consultations, primarily providing treatment for chronic diseases, maternity care, and medical support for old-age citizens.
With Embrace support they have also been providing cash assistance to help families cover their basic needs, as well as providing therapy sessions to help address trauma, stress and grief. They told us:
“Despite extreme conditions, including destruction, displacement, and limited resources, Caritas staff operated with resilience and dedication. The collapse of the referral system and recurring medicine stockouts made managing routine cases more difficult. Still, medical teams remained committed to upholding health services under pressure.”
3 September
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem currently have 125 staff in Gaza, working amid increasingly challenging conditions to provide healthcare, psychological treatment and food assistance to Gaza’s civilians. This week they told us:
“Caritas Jerusalem staff are currently operating under extremely challenging conditions in Gaza, ongoing bombardments and repeated displacement due to military operations…. In the past week, Israeli forces have intensified bombardments and ground operations across Gaza, while Palestinian armed groups continued rocket fire and clashes…food aid in Gaza remains critically insufficient, despite some increase.”
Israeli forces have announced they are planning a major offensive on Gaza City and in recent weeks have been issuing evacuation orders to large parts of the city, including an area where several of Caritas’ staff have been sheltering. Their staff report that:
“The situation on the ground remains chaotic and dangerous. While some civilians have managed to move southward, many have remained in place. This is largely due to the absence of safe corridors, lack of shelter in the south, and concerns about moving into areas that have also been targeted.”
Please keep the staff of Caritas and all our partners in Gaza in your prayers as the situation they face becomes ever more perilous.
2 September
In pictures: Getting food to families facing famine conditions in Gaza
As malnutrition and starvation conditions spread across Gaza, we’ve responded by supporting an emergency project run by our partners in Gaza, providing vital supplies of flour to over 500 families in Gaza City.
19 August
On Sunday, our partner, Al Ahli Hospital, suffered multiple attacks from local outlaw bands and from an IDF drone attack. We join with the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning these attacks and calling for all parties to respect the protection granted to hospitals under International Humanitarian Law.
The devastation of the war and the resulting humanitarian crisis has fueled the rise of armed groups within Gaza, increasing the dangers faced by our partners on a day to day basis. We pray for the safety and protection of their staff as they continue to courageously serve all of those who are in need of care. Below is a statement from the Diocese of Jerusalem in response to the attacks:
18 August
We are deeply saddened by the news that an Israeli airstrike struck the courtyard of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City during the early hours of Sunday 17 August, resulting in the tragic loss of lives of seven people.
Sawsan Aranki-Batato from the Diocese of Jerusalem said: “We are so saddened and still shocked … No injuries or fatalities have been reported among our staff or patients. Our medical team provided life-saving treatment to those wounded in the attack, who remain admitted to our inpatient department and under our care at the hospital.”
14 August
With Israeli authorities threatening to ban major aid organisations as starvation deepens in Gaza, Embrace has joined 100+ other global organisations in calling for an end to Israel’s weaponisation of aid.
13 August
Supporting malnourished children in Gaza: Sana’s story
Sana was born on 12 May 2024 in the north of Gaza. From when she was born until now, her life has been a story of war. Her father was killed in the war, leaving her mother to care for four children alone, with no income or support.
Malnutrition is increasing for children in Gaza, while the Integrated Food Security Classification has warned that ‘the worst-case scenario’ of famine is now playing out. Yet against this grim backdrop, Embrace partner the Near East Council of Churches, is continuing to serve and support children like Sana.
12 August
Meet the team serving children in Gaza against all the odds
“Kinan is now able to walk and even climb stairs, but we, along with him, still face many challenges. Limited resources, such as access to proper nutrition and basic supplies like diapers, make daily life harder for us. Moreover, Kinan receives therapy at the [Princess Basma] Centre, then we go back to live in a tent, which is not helping him to walk properly” – Kinan’s father, Gaza
The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre satellite unit, based at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City and supported by Embrace, is continuing to provide rehabilitation services for children like Kinan with chronic conditions and post-trauma injuries. In our latest blog, you can read about the huge challenges they face and hear directly from two of their eight staff members about their motivations and dreams.
29 July
Christian village of Taybeh attacked again
We are distressed by news that settlers have once again targeted the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, causing damage and intimidation. We share the deep concerns of The Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem, who have issued a statement condemning the attack:
“We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, express our profound concern and unwavering condemnation following yet another violent assault that targeted the West Bank Christian town of Taybeh. Several vehicles were set ablaze, and hateful graffiti was sprayed—an unambiguous act of intimidation directed at a peaceful and faithful community rooted in the land of Christ. It forms part of an alarming pattern of settler violence against West Bank communities, including their homes, sacred spaces, and ways of life…
“We are gravely troubled by the prevailing climate of impunity, which undermines the rule of law and jeopardizes peaceful coexistence in the land of the Resurrection. The lack of accountability not only threatens Christian communities but also weakens the moral and legal foundations that uphold peace and justice for all…” Read statement in full
25 July
Partner staff in Gaza are starving
The food situation now facing our partners, the whole Christian community, and all in Gaza, is beyond critical – it is catastrophic. We have received this devasting update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem:
“Our colleagues in Gaza are no different from the rest of the civilian population. They are being starved under siege conditions, surviving on little more than salt, water, and tea.
“Yesterday, Dr Jihad, our medical consultant in Gaza, witnessed a deeply distressing scene: an injured child awaiting surgery was crying uncontrollably. The doctors initially believed he was scared — but it became clear he was crying out of hunger.
“In a heart-breaking reflection shared by one of our colleagues in Gaza, they remarked with bitter irony: ‘Those who died at the beginning of the war are, in a way, the lucky ones. At least they were spared the slow, humiliating death by hunger that we are now left to endure.’
“We urgently appeal to President Trump to intervene and help bring an end to this brutal war,” said Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem. “We plead for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors, so we can reach thousands of innocent lives — among them our own colleagues in Gaza — before it’s too late.”
Medical centre damaged
These shocking images were sent to us by our partner Caritas Jerusalem, showing the damage inflicted on their medical centre in central Gaza. The staff had evacuated the clinic following an evacuation order from the Israeli forces last week. They told us:
“Bombing in the area escalated rapidly. Soon after, buildings surrounding the medical point were flattened, and the centre itself sustained structural damage. According to our staff, Israeli tanks and bulldozers razed the entire vicinity, including trees, buildings, and all surrounding infrastructure.”
24 July
Embrace joins the call warning of mass starvation in Gaza
Over 100 humanitarian and aid agencies yesterday issued a joint warning that mass starvation is spreading across Gaza and calling on governments worldwide to take urgent action. Embrace the Middle East is a signatory on that statement. The situation now facing our partners, the whole Christian community, and all in Gaza, is beyond critical – it is catastrophic: Read the statement
21 July
We mourn the deaths of our sisters and brothers in the strike on the Holy Family Church, Gaza
We are heartbroken that three of our Christian family are now confirmed to have died from injuries they received in the strike that hit the Holy Family church in Gaza on 17 July. Two are still in hospital, having sustained critical injuries. One of those who died, Fomiyeh Ayyad, was the aunt of the director of the new Princess Basma Centre disability unit at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital – established last year with the help of Embrace funds.
The Israeli authorities have said the strike was a mistake, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologised, saying: “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church.” But this does not make the losses any easier to bear.
Nor does this change the fact that far too many innocent civilians have been killed in the conflict so far. Israel is failing in its duty to protect non-combatants. Our partner the Pontifical Mission for Palestine said:
“When unarmed civilians seeking refuge in a holy site are killed, it suggests a broader strategy to render Gaza uninhabitable, a violation of international law and a betrayal of humanity.”
20 July
Latest pictures from Holy Family Church, Gaza
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem have shared these shocking images from the aftermath of the strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza. Caritas have staff sheltering in and working from the church. Some of those killed and injured had been sitting in a shelter just outside the church, from which Caritas have been providing psychosocial support.
17 July
A further death confirmed following Holy Family Church shelling in Gaza
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem have issued a statement confirming that a third person has now died as a result of a shell hitting the Holy Family Church compound early this morning, and nine others have been injured. The statement also condemn the incident:
“The Latin Patriarchate strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place. However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza. Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere.
The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all what is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally, unjustified”… READ THE STATEMENT IN FULL
Update on Holy Family Church shelling – two confirmed dead
It is with great sadness that we pass on confirmation from our partner Caritas Jerusalem that two members of the Christian community in Gaza – Mr Saad Salameh (aged 60) and Mrs Fumayya Ayyad (84) – have died from injuries they sustained in this morning’s strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. Caritas told us:
“Mr. Salameh, the janitor of the parish, was in the yard at the time of the explosion. Mrs. Ayyad was sitting inside a Caritas psychosocial support tent when the blast sent shrapnel and debris into the area. Both were critically wounded and transported to hospital, but due to the severe lack of medical resources and blood units in Gaza, they tragically passed away.
Their deaths are a painful reminder of the impossible conditions faced by civilians and medical personnel under siege. Our colleagues on the ground are in shock and mourning, having witnessed yet another senseless loss of innocent life.
We once again call on the international community to act urgently to protect civilians, places of worship, and humanitarian spaces, and to ensure that people in Gaza have access to the most basic right: the chance to survive.
May Saad and Fumayya rest in peace. We carry their memory with us.”
Holy Family Church, Gaza, hit by shelling – injuries and damage reported
We are deeply sad to report that the Holy Family Church in Gaza was hit by a shell this morning, causing injuries and damage. Details are still being confirmed. We ask for your urgent prayers for the situation.
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem have informed us that there has been intense shelling and military operations in the area around the church in recent days, and sent us this update of what happened this morning:
“This morning at approximately 10:10 a.m., the Holy Family Church in Gaza—a sanctuary for displaced civilians—was struck by a shell.
The explosion occurred near the cross on the church roof, scattering shrapnel and debris across the yard. At the time, some individuals were outside the main building, including two elderly women who were sitting inside our Caritas psychosocial support tent. Both were severely wounded and were transported by ambulance to Al-Ahli Hospital after a 15-minute delay.
Three young people who had been standing at the entrance of the church were also badly injured and were rushed to the hospital using private vehicles due to the urgency of the situation. Several others sustained minor injuries, including cuts that required stitches…
Caritas Jerusalem urgently calls on all parties to respect and protect places of worship and humanitarian shelter. Striking or endangering civilians seeking refuge is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a direct assault on human dignity.”
15 July
Settler attacks on the Christian village of Taybeh, West Bank
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches yesterday released a statement in response to the increasing settler attacks on the village of Taybeh in the West Bank. Taybeh is the last remaining all-Christian village in the West Bank.
“We, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, are here today in Taybeh in solidarity with the local community following an intensifying trend of systemic and targeted attacks against them and their presence. We ask for the prayers, attention, and action of the world, particularly that of Christians globally.
On Monday, 7 July 2025, radical Israelis from nearby settlements intentionally set fire near the town’s cemetery and the Church of Saint George, which dates back to the 5th century. Taybeh is the last remaining all-Christian town in the West Bank. These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community first and foremost, but also to the historic and religious heritage of our ancestors and holy sites.”… READ THE STATEMENT IN FULL
14 July
Al Ahli Hospital Doctor Killed in Gaza
Today we are mourning the death of Dr Ahmad Attallah Qandil, one of Gaza’s most experienced surgeons and part of the medical team at our partner Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Dr Ahmad was killed yesterday by Israeli forces as he was returning home from a surgical shift at the hospital.
The hospital’s director, Suhaila Tarazi, said: ‘Dr Ahmad was not only a colleague but a true humanitarian – dedicated, courageous, and selfless in his service to others. His loss is not only a wound to those who knew and loved him, but also the entire medical and human community he served with such integrity and compassion.’
Israeli military attacks on hospitals and the targeting of healthcare workers has been, and continues to be, shameful. We call once again for the protection of medical staff and institutions, and for international leaders to push for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.
25 June
An update from Gaza
Despite the immensely difficult situation in Gaza, the team at the satellite unit of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre (JPBC) there continue to treat and support children with disabilities – many are those who have trauma-related disabilities as a result of the war. The JPBC told us, “our staff of eight are working at full capacity. In the first 5 months of 2025, our team there admitted 595 children to our unit.” Ismail, one of their physiotherapists in Gaza, said:
“When I see a child walk or even smile again after a therapy session, I feel like I am helping to restore a part of their humanity that was taken away. My message to the world is that our children are not just numbers in the news, they are living souls who deserve to live with dignity and be given the chance to grow, learn and dream like other children around the world.”
An update from Israel
Our partner Aviv Ministry supports those struggling with drug addiction and those living rough on the streets in Israel. Last week, safety fears because of the Iranian airstrikes caused them to temporarily close their centre in Tel Aviv (a place where people come for hot meals and medical support), but this did not stop their wider work. They sent us this video:
23 June
An update from Jerusalem
Our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, which provides disability services for children in the West Bank, tell us that the situation in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, is still difficult, but they have so far been able to continue to keep their centre open. They sent us this update:
“Although, this last weekend we have witnessed a deteriorating situation with daily alerts and sirens sounding out throughout our communities in Jerusalem and beyond, ‘essential services’ are permitted to work. And so, we continue to serve an increasing number of children with disabilities and their families here, grateful to our dedicated staff who are tireless in their support.”
17 June
An update from our partners in Israel
We have been in touch with our friends and partners in Tel Aviv, Nazareth and Acre. We are thankful that, so far, all our safe, but the strikes have affected their ability to continue some of their projects. Our partner Aviv Ministry, which provides hot meals and healthcare support to those living rough on the streets of Tel Aviv, sent us this message:
“Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for us and for Israel during these very difficult days! We truly feel your love and support. By God’s grace, we are safe – although the stress and lack of sleep are definitely taking a toll.
After much thought and prayer, we made the difficult decision to temporarily close our Aviv Center. This was not an easy step, but … these attacks are often directed specifically at Tel Aviv, where our soup kitchen is located, since it is one of the most densely populated area in the Land, so that missiles could cause the greatest number of casualties. Aviv Center does not even have a bomb shelter, so for the safety of our volunteers and visitors, we are pausing operations in it for now. Thankfully, all our other projects are continuing with minimal disruption.”
16 June
Israel-Iran conflict: An update from our Palestinian partners
Our partners tell us that the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran means that a lockdown is now in place in the West Bank, with the occupying Israeli forces severely restricting movement between towns and villages. No direct strikes have yet hit the West Bank, but missile debris has landed near Nablus and other southern areas, causing alarm and fears for the safety of civilians there.
On Friday, safety concerns meant Caritas Jerusalem halted their operations while they assessed and adapted to the new situation but they have since resumed their healthcare and community services. They tell us:
“The operating environment remains dangerous and unpredictable … While diplomatic solutions remain elusive, Caritas Jerusalem’s efforts continue to provide a lifeline to thousands in need – offering medical care, food, and dignity amid uncertainty and fear.”
Our partner the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, which provides disability services for children in the West Bank, also tell us that, despite the rising challenges, they have so far been able to keep services running:
“You will be seeing and hearing through your newsfeeds about the new and formidable challenges that we are all facing here… Today, in Jerusalem, our centre is fully open. Although our West Bank staff have had long journeys to work, with their special medical permission they can still access Jerusalem at a time when many Palestinians cannot. More remarkably, this week a number of families from the West Bank who were referred through our Outreach Program, have been able to reach us to enrol on our residential Child Rehabilitation and Mother and Family Empowerment Program.
At this time of great uncertainty and fear across these lands, the staff of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre want to thank you and all our friends in the international community for your deep concern and support.”
13 June
As violence escalates between Israel and Iran, please join us in prayer for peace in the Middle East. We pray for an end to the bloodshed. We pray for compassion, mercy and restraint.
6 JUNE
Al Kafaat’s Disability Centre damaged once again in Israeli airstrike
We are deeply saddened to report that the buildings of our partner Al Kafaat suffered more damage in the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. Their Village Campus, which had held various disability services, including residential care, was not occupied because of the extensive damage it had already suffered in strikes at the autumn of 2024. Since last autumn Al Kafaat have continued to provide their disability services through their other sites. They sent us this update this morning:
“They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. It struck three times in October 2024, and a fourth time last night. On the eve of Eid, a holiday celebrated by all Lebanese, and especially by the Muslim community, the neighborhood where the Al-Kafaat Foundation’s two key rehabilitation centres are located (the Village Campus and the Lily Shwayri Centre) was bombarded by the Israeli air force. The Village Campus was particularly hard hit, once again. We managed to evacuate the Campus caretaker and his family at the last minute. Maintaining hope in such conditions feels like a challenge.”
5 JUNE
IDF kill people in Al Ahli Hospital Compound
We are heartbroken to hear that this morning, the Israeli Defence Forces targetted people in the compound of our partner Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Five people have been killed and 30 injured, including hospital staff. The Diocese of Jerusalem, who run the hospital, have issued this statement:
30 MAY
Caritas reopens clinic in Gaza City
Embrace supports Caritas Jerusalem’s emergency cash-assistance programme in Gaza – a lifeline for families struggling to get basics such as food and shelter. The team also provide vital medical services. The ceasefire in January meant displaced staff were able to return to Gaza City. Since then, they have been repairing their damaged medical centre there. Earlier this month, despite the continuing deteriorating humanitarian situation, they were able to get the clinic reopened!
27 MAY
An update on Gaza’s Christian community
Our partner, the Pontifical Mission, sent us the following news about the Christian community in Gaza:
“As of May 2025, many [members of Gaza’s Christian community] have sought refuge in other parts of Gaza or attempted to migrate to other countries, though various obstacles have made it hard to leave.
St Porphyrius Church: Approximately 150 people are currently sheltering at St Porphyrius Church. Once a refuge for around 90 families, the church now hosts only about 60, as overcrowding and the lack of essential supplies have forced some to return to their partially damaged homes. Space is limited and food aid is scarce – distributions occur irregularly and in very small quantities. Bread production has halted entirely due to the complete absence of flour in local markets, and communal meals are no longer possible, leaving individuals to prepare food under difficult conditions.
Despite these challenges, the church continues to provide critical support to both those sheltering within and to vulnerable families in the surrounding area. For children, small-scale recreational activities offer a brief respite from the ongoing trauma, though these efforts are constrained by the severe shortage of resources.
Holy Family Church: The situation at Holy Family Church is equally dire. Approximately 140 families – around 400 people – are currently living within its walls. Over 100 individuals have chosen to return to their partially damaged homes due to severe overcrowding and a shortage of essential supplies. Humanitarian aid is only distributed twice a month, and even then, it is in very limited amounts. Despite these challenges, the church remains committed to supporting the community. It provides vital psychosocial support to children through structured programmes and has set up a small school and kindergarten to ensure some continuity in education during this crisis.”
23 MAY
An update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza
A shelter has been erected in the grounds of Al Ahli Hospital to replace the outpatient building destroyed in the Israeli airstrike on Palm Sunday. It will allow the hospital to treat more cases and injuries. The hospital is still receiving hundreds of admissions and performing around 24 surgeries a day.
19 MAY
Airstrikes hit near medical points in Gaza
Today we received the following update from our partner Caritas Jerusalem:
“Caritas Jerusalem confirms that two airstrikes struck areas near our medical points in Al-Birkeh and Abu Oureif in Deir Al Balah, Gaza, late last Saturday. These locations are part of our ongoing efforts to provide primary health care support to communities in urgent need. Fortunately, the airstrikes occurred at night, and no members of our medical team or civilians were harmed.
“We are now reassessing the positioning of our medical points to ensure they remain outside high-risk zones. While our commitment to providing life-saving care in Gaza remains unwavering, we are taking additional precautions to safeguard our staff and beneficiaries.”
16 MAY
MY TRIP TO THE WEST BANK – WITNESSING LIFE UNDER OCCUPATION
“I have recently returned from the West Bank, as well as Israel and Jordan, meeting some of Embrace’s partners, hearing from them and seeing their work. I have to say, it’s been a challenging and sobering time…”
15 MAY
An Update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza
Since the airstrike on Al Ahli Hospital on Palm Sunday, the staff there have been working to repair the damage and get the hospital fully open once again. Currently, the ICU and operating theatre are functional and the hospital is able to admit and treat in-patients. However, out-patient treatment is limited as the strike cause extensive damage to the out-patient clinic (along with the emergency department and laboratories). The repairs are complicated due to the lack of available construction materials (no materials are allowed into Gaza because of Israel’s aid blockade). They are recycling what they can from the rubble, but moving it is a challenge without heavy equipment.
7 MAY
Embrace’s CEO, Jamie Eyre, and Director of Programmes, Partnerships and Advocacy, Dr Ruth Valerio, have been in the West Bank this week, visiting our partners there and hearing updates on what’s happening in Gaza. Yesterday, Ruth spoke to UCB Radio about what they have witnessed and about Israel’s newly announced plans for Gaza. Listen to her interview below:
3 MAY
This week we heard first-hand from our partners working in Gaza that people are on the brink of starvation and water and medicines are running out. After two months of Israel’s blockade of Gaza – preventing the entry of all aid, food, fuel and medicines – we at Embrace the Middle East echo the statement from the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We urgently call on the international community to respond and ensure Israel lifts the blockade now and allows access to goods.
17 April
An Easter message from our Palestinian partners
Today our partner DSPR (Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees), whose work in Gaza and the West Bank we’ve been supporting throughout this current conflict, sent us this Easter message:
“As we mark this sacred Easter season, we are reminded of the profound message at the heart of the resurrection: that even in the shadow of the cross, life triumphs over death, hope rises through despair and love endures beyond all suffering…Amidst grief, displacement, and fear, the message of the risen Christ becomes even more powerful, a light that refuses to be overcome by darkness.
As a Christian ecumenical organisation working in Gaza, we have witnessed both the pain and the extraordinary resilience of those who continue to cling to faith, compassion, and hope. We honour their courage, and we remain committed to standing with them, bringing practical support, spiritual encouragement, and the reassurance that they are not forgotten.
We are deeply grateful for you our partners for the genuine partnership, prayers and the continuous solidarity and support. May this Easter renew our shared mission to be instruments of peace and healing in a broken world…”
16 April
WHO video of damage to Al Ahli Hospital
Staff from the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited our partner Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza, following Israel’s Palm Sunday airstrikes to assess the damage. They took this video:
UN WHO footage of damage to Al Ahli Hospital, taken on 14 April 2025.
14 April
Updates from our partners in Gaza, following Israeli airstrike on Al Ahli Hospital
Our partner the Princess Basma Centre have confirmed that thankfully all their staff at Al Ahli Hospital are safe and that (unlike other parts of the hospital) their disability unit there was only slightly damaged in the strikes. They are hopefully of being able to reopen it soon:
‘Today our team are fixing, cleaning and preparing the unit once again to receive patients, so the work, needs and challenges go on.’
Debris from yesterday’s airstrike reached as far as St Porphyrius Church, where the Christian community still sheltering there were preparing for their Palm Sunday service. They have ask for our prayers, saying:
‘During these special moments in the history of the Palestinian People, and these holy days of prayer during the Holy Week celebrated by all the Christian denominations together, we pray for mercy, we pray for peace, we pray for the resurrection of the human conscience, so that this savagery may come to an end before we forget what it really means to be human beings and the term “mercy” and “compassion” become empty words.’
EMBRACE ISSUES STATEMENT CONDEMNING AL AHLI ATTACK
“Embrace the Middle East stands with the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning Isreal’s attack on Al Ahli Hospital during the early hours of Palm Sunday. We urge an immediate end to the war and the protection of all medical and faith-based institutions. Al Ahli is a long-standing Embrace partner and one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza City…”
13 April
Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza bombed by Israel
This Palm Sunday, we are devastated at the news of the bombing of Al Ahli hospital. Al Ahli is an Embrace partner and one of Gaza City’s last functioning hospitals. We join the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning this attack, calling for an urgent end to the war and the protection of all medical & faith-based institutions.
This morning, our team contacted the Medical Director at Al Ahli Hospital to share our support and prayers. This was his message of thanks for safety of the staff and patients and a prayer for peace:
Good morning from Gaza.
We are sorry for the hospital attacks early morning of the Palm Sunday. Our Lord was very great keeping all of our patients and employees safe.
Praying for ceasefire, and peace for all.
God bless 🙏
Please join with us in praying with him:
“Out of the depths have I cried unto you. O Lord hear my voice.”
Loving God, you call us to mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep.
As we stand with our friends at the Al Ahli Hospital, hear our prayers for an end to this senseless violence. Give us the courage and the will to speak up for the defenceless. Remind us that every human being is made in your image.
We pray for those with the power to stop this madness. Give them the vision to imagine new possibilities, where hardened hearts are opened to goodness, love and grace.
We pray for the team at Al Ahli, Archbishop Hosam, and the Diocese of Jerusalem. Surround them with your love, give them your strength and fill them with your wisdom.
We ask all this in the name of the one who suffered, died and rose again.
Amen
Statement from the Diocese of Jerusalem in response to Israel’s bombing of Al Ahli Hospital
“The Diocese of Jerusalem condemns in the strongest terms today’s missile attacks on the Ahli Arab Hospital, an institution run by the Anglican Church in Jerusalem. The twin strikes demolished the two-storey Genetic Laboratory and damaged the Pharmacy and the Emergency Department buildings. It also resulted in other collateral damage to the surrounding buildings, including the church building of St. Philip’s.
“A mere twenty minutes prior to the attack, the Israeli army ordered all patients, employees, and displaced people to immediately evacuate the hospital premises prior to its bombing. We thank God that there were no injuries or deaths as a result of the bombing. However, one child who previously suffered a head-injury tragically died as a result of the rushed evacuation process.
“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. We call upon all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions. We pray and call for the end of this horrific war and the suffering of so many.”
4 APRIL
An Update from Gaza
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem provide primary healthcare and mental health support in Gaza. During the ceasefire, their staff (numbering over 100) were able to expand services into areas they had been unable to access during the fighting and they now have 10 medical points across the Gaza strip. As most of the hospitals remain either out of action or only functioning at very limited capacity, these medical points are providing a vital lifeline.
However, the renewed airstrikes and blockade imposed by Israel has caused the situation to rapidly deteriorate again. At times, Caritas Jerusalem have been forced to pause their work for fears over staff safety and there are shortages of vital supplies. As Israel continues to block aid from entering the country it is having catastrophic consequences on a population already living in the worst of situations.
More land confiscations and travel restrictions in the West Bank
Today we received this update from our partner Anar, based in Bethlehem, which runs a range of projects supporting Palestinian children and young adults:
“In the West Bank alone, where Anar’s work is concentrated, over 40,000+ Palestinians have now been forcibly displaced by the Israeli military and settler violence. Every day, we witness more land confiscations. Access restrictions have intensified, with prolonged delays at checkpoints and new road gates and blocks installed. Bethlehem alone has 89 gates in and around it. The danger of travel is so significant that many Palestinian people can’t risk visiting their families in neighboring towns for many weeks.”
26 MARCH
VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN THE WEST BANK
Our partner the Pontifical Mission for Palestine gave us this report on the situation in the West Bank:
“In the northern districts of the West Bank, military attacks on Palestinian refugee camps and arresting people without trial is taking place on a daily basis. However, after October 7, 2023, and in recent months, Israeli military forces have been demolishing infrastructure throughout the West Bank including roads, homes and buildings, which displaced tens of thousands of people from Jenin, Tulkarem and Ein Shams refugee camps. Moreover, settler violence has reached unprecedented levels in Area C of the West Bank… All the current policies have all but shut down the tourism sector that is strangling the Palestinian economy, especially in Bethlehem.“
24 MARCH
SITUATION IN GAZA CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
This morning, our partner the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, sent us this update:
“For over three weeks now, Israel has shut all crossings, including Rafah on the Egyptian side, preventing any humanitarian supplies from reaching Gaza. With the crossings shut, there is no food, water, fuel, medicine or medical supplies…People need water and electricity. However, water tanks that could be put on the rooftop and filled with desalinated water, are unavailable in Gaza. Electricity generators are unavailable…[and] fuel to run them is scarce.”
18 MARCH
PARTNERS IN GAZA FORCED TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AMID AIRSRIKES
The renewal of Israeli Defence Forces airstrikes in Gaza have reported led to over 400 deaths. They are also having a huge impact on the ability of our partners to continue to provide vital humanitarian aid. Our partner Caritas Jerusalem sent us this update this morning:
“The attacks come amid a full blockade of aid and the continued closure of the Rafah crossing since March 2, raising fears of mass starvation.
Caritas Jerusalem has suspended all operations in Gaza, including staff movement and medical centre rehabilitation efforts, for safety reasons. Currently, 100 CJ staff members remain in Gaza, operating across 10 medical points.
With Gaza on the brink, Caritas Jerusalem continues to monitor the crisis, determined to resume life-saving services as soon as possible.
We plead for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed before more innocent lives are lost.”
A PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO THE RENEWED AIRSTRIKES
We watch with dismay and anguish as the violence resumes in Gaza. Please join us in prayer:
Lord God,
We watch with dismay and anguish as the violence resumes in Gaza.
We pray for the people of Gaza: for those directly impacted by last night’s strikes and those now living in fear of what comes next.
We pray for the hostages, for their safety and that they will be released.
We pray for negotiators and those with political influence: give them compassion and restraint, and lead them in the paths of peace, not war.
Be close to our partners and give them strength as they continue to serve and help those in desperate need. In the name of the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
10 MARCH
RECONCILIATION IS NOT NEUTRALITY
“Reconciliation is an active pursuit of justice, truth, and healing, a powerful and costly endeavour. It is not about standing on the sidelines, waiting for conflict to resolve itself, nor is it about maintaining a false balance in the face of deep injustice…” Daniel Munayer reflects on the power imbalances of the Israel-Palestine conflict and what it takes to work for a just and sustainable peace.
7 MARCH
Children return to the classrooms in Lebanon – but carry traumatic memories of the war
The neighbourhood in which our partner Tahaddi runs an education centre was particularly badly affected by the Israeli airstrikes during the war. Most of the residents fled the area and so Tahaddi moved their education support online (teaching mainly WhatsApp messages). Now, thankfully the children have been able to return to the classrooms, but all have been psychologically affected by the war. Tahaddi has been helping the children process their experiences:
‘Each child had the chance to express the trauma they experienced during the war through an exercise led by our psychologist, who visited every classroom to facilitate support sessions. To symbolise their fears and sorrows, they chose a heavy stone; to represent what gave them strength, they picked up a feather. [One child told us] “The sound of bombs, the fear in my parents’ eyes, the hurried escape, leaving our blankets on the roadside …that was heavy”.
6 MARCH
Update from Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza
Dr Maher, Medical Director at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, explains what it’s been like at the hospital since the ceasefire.
4 MARCH
Thousands of people displaced in West Bank
Since the beginning of the year, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly, particularly in the Jenin Governorate, where Israel’s military has been conducting a major military operation, called Iron Wall, which it launched immediately after the ceasefire in Gaza was announced.
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem told us that over 40,000 have been displaced and the increasing IDF check points have made travel in and out of Jenin extremely difficult for their staff:
Since the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including Jenin, the humanitarian crisis has worsened. The Israeli military’s operations, including airstrikes, sieges, and movement restrictions, have led to mass displacement and increased food insecurity, leaving thousands without access to essential services. The rise in settler violence and systematic blockages of aid is exacerbating an already dire situation. Despite these challenges, organizations like Caritas Jerusalem are tirelessly working to help displaced families live with dignity and hope for the future.
Embrace continues to support a psychological first aid programme in the West Bank, run by the East Jerusalem YMCA, which provides immediate mental health support for those who have been impacted by the violence.
3 MARCH
Amid disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, and Israel now blocking entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, please join us in praying for peace:
God of peace,
We pray for the continued ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Guide the negotiators and those with influence in the paths of peace and justice.
We pray for the release of all remaining hostages and unfettered access to vital, lifesaving aid for Gaza. May people on both sides be treated with dignity and respect, and not as bargaining tools.
Surround all those living in fear and uncertainty with your protection. We pray that compassion, peace and justice will prevail.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
25 FEBRUARY
Israeli operations escalating in the West Bank
Israeli military operations are continuing to increase in the West Bank, particularly in the Jenin Governorate. This morning the work of our partner Caritas Jerusalem was interrupted by raids in the area. They sent us this update:
“This morning, Israeli Security Forces (ISF) invaded Zababdeh village, in the Jenin Governate, demolishing a house in the eastern neighbourhood. Caritas Jerusalem (CJ) staff were forced to remain at home, and the Latin School shifted to remote learning. The military withdrew an hour ago, marking another escalation in the ongoing operations across Jenin Governorate.
CJ continues to provide humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the surrounding villages, despite limited resources. Staff are expected to return to the office shortly to resume relief efforts.”
As the situation in the West Bank grows increasingly uncertain and volatile, we ask you to hold those caught up in the violence in your prayers.
19 FEBRUARY
Disability services in Gaza City
Our partner the Princess Basma Centre provides specialist rehabilitation for children with disabilities in Gaza and the West Bank. Today they sent us this update:
“We cherish all good news these days. And so we celebrate the safe arrival of our two displaced therapists from southern Gaza to join their colleagues at our satellite unit in Gaza City.
We are also delighted that they are joined by a seventh team member, Ala’a our new Speech and Language therapist. This means that we can truly embrace our multi-disicplinary model of rehabilitation and treat children with complex needs and their families holistically and in one place.”
18 FEBRUARY
An update from the Olive Tree Project in the West Bank
Embrace supports the Olive Tree Project through our partner the East Jerusalem YMCA. The project helps Palestinian farmers in the West Bank by replacing olive trees that have been uprooted or destroyed by Settlers trying to claim Palestinian land as their own. They sent us this video update:
17 FEBRUARY
“A CITY ON A KNIFE EDGE” – 5 DAYS VISITNG BEIRUT
In this long-read, Embrace’s Rev Su McClellan shares a vivid personal account of her recent trip to Lebanon. She describes the lasting impact of the recent Israel-Hezbollah war, and how the local Christians that Embrace supports are rebuilding and continuing to serve their communities with love and compassion.
14 FEBRUARY
570 Christians still sheltering in Gaza City’s churches
The ceasefire has brought some relief and hope for Gaza’s Christian community, but they have not been able to return to their homes. 570 Christians remain in compounds of the Holy Family Church and St Porphyrius Church in Gaza City and daily life remains a struggle. Nathalie, who is current living at St Porphyrius Church, told our partner Caritas Jerusalem:
“All Christians are still located in churches’ compounds. Nobody has left. Even if your house is still standing, it is not suitable for living… no materials are available to repair homes … There is no water, no electricity, no market to buy anything. We have to walk long distances to find anything of use, and even then, we may find nothing.”
The church compounds provide safety, food and shelter but life for those living there is still extremely difficult and uncertainty about what the future will hold continues.
11 FEBRUARY
An update from Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza City
Staff at Al-Ahli Hospital tell us that they are continuing to see a huge demand for their medical services (600-700 patients a day). The ceasefire has meant many people are now seeking treatment for conditions or wounds and burns that they were not able to during the fighting. This means that sadly these patients are in a poor medical condition, experiencing acute symptoms.
Some chemotherapy and rehabilitation treatment for cancer patients has now restarted at the hospital and they are looking to repair their damaged diagnostic centre so that this can be expanded. Many of the buildings at Al Ahli Hospital have been damaged during the war – repairs are estimated at $1.6 million.
10 FEBRUARY
New medical point established in Gaza
Our partner Caritas Jerusalem are continuing to provide vital medical services in Gaza, as they did throughout the war. The ceasefire has meant they have been able to establish a new medical point on Al Rasheed Street (one of the main north-south roads in Gaza) to support the displaced families who are now returning to the ruins of northern Gaza. They are also making progress on repairing their damaged medical centre in Al-Shaati refugee camp in the north of Gaza so that this can be reopened. But with many supplies still scarce and the infrastructure of Gaza in ruins, the difficulties faced by all in Gaza are immense. They shared this video update and spoke of the daily challenges and uncertainty facing Gazans:
“The ceasefire offers little comfort when daily survival is fraught with challenges…this [medical] point is a lifeline for those navigating the precarious conditions of the aftermath of war.”
5 FEBRUARY
“We are not leaving” – Gaza’s Christians respond to President Trump
Shortly after President Trump’s shock announcement of his plans that the USA would take over Gaza and Palestinians would be resettled, we spoke to our friend George Antone, who remained in Gaza City throughout the war and is one of the 570 Christians still sheltering in the two churches there. He told us:
“For us as Christians, we are not leaving Gaza for any reason. We will remain in Gaza and we will help the people in Gaza. We will help in reconstructing Gaza. We will help in rebuilding the houses and the streets and we will stay in Gaza – we are not leaving. … Thank you very much for your concern and for Embrace the Middle East and everything you do for us.”
Embrace’s response to President Trump’s announcement about Gaza:
Our CEO, Jamie Eyre, shared Embrace’s reaction to President Trump’s announcement about Gaza in an interview on UCB Radio:
“We support an end to this conflict that is decided on by Palestinians and Israelis together, and not imposed by one side or one foreign power.”
You can listen to the full interview here.
4 FEBRUARY
Medical clinics reopen in Rafah and Gaza City
Throughout the war in Gaza, the dedicated medical staff of our partner the DSPR have been providing primary medical care but the war forced them to relocate their clinics on several occasions. The ceasefire has meant they’ve been able to return to assess the damage to their buildings and begin the work of reopening them. They told us:
“In Rafah, we have reopened our primary healthcare center, which had been forced to close during Israeli the invasion to Rafah. Thankfully, the building was not destroyed, though it required repairs, medical equipment, and medicine.
“We also continued operations at the clinic in Nuseirat, in the central area of Gaza strip…The [displaced] staff members who returned to Gaza City and the northern regions have joined the teams there [and] the temporary medical point established in Gaza City after the destruction of our clinics in Shejaiya and Daraj remains active. Restoration work is also underway at DSPR’s main building, bringing us closer to reopening two primary healthcare centers that will serve the people of Gaza City.”
Reopened DSPR clinic in Rafah, February 2025.
Providing support for those returning to northern Gaza
Over the last few days, thousands of displaced Gazan families have been returning to the north. Many are making the journey on foot, carrying their possessions. Teams from our partner the DSPR have been out on the roads to distribute food and water and provide psychological first aid.
3 FEBRUARY
HEALING THE TRAUMA OF CHILD-DETENTION IN THE WEST BANK
30 JANUARY
Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza still treating hundreds of patients a day
A couple of weeks ago, Al Ahli Hospital was treating over 700 patients a day. These photos, taken yesterday, show how busy the hospital remains, operating at far beyond capacity.
Please continue to pray for the patients and for the medical staff, as they continue to provide vital treatment amid deeply challenging circumstances.
29 JANUARY
FINDING HOPE IN HARD PLACES – A REFLECTION FROM BETHLEHEM
Salim Munayer, Professor of Theology at Bethlehem Bible College, reflects on the hope he has found in the scriptures amid the 15 months of war in Gaza. He calls on us, as Christians, to act on that hope and bear testimony to it.
24 JANUARY
23 JANUARY
A Message from Gaza’s Christians
20 JANUARY
Update on Al Ahli Hospital, Gaza
Yesterday the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire but also calling on the region’s leaders to invest political and financial capital into peacebuilding so that there can be a just and lasting peace. You can download the full statement here.
The diocese runs Al Ahli Hospital, which Embrace has been partnering with for many years and supporting throughout this current crisis. In their statement, they had this to say on the work of the hospital:
At this time, we would like to commend the courageous staff and volunteers of our Al Ahli Hospital and its clinics in Gaza, who have endured unbearable hardships in extending Christ’s healing ministry to the thousands of wounded patients they have treated throughout the course of the war. They are true heroes in this disastrous chapter in our region’s history.
We would also like to thank our many partners and donors around the world: without your generous support, we could not have kept our hospital supplied and running amid the many adversities it has faced. In the weeks and months ahead there will be more opportunities to contribute towards expanding the work of the hospital in order to meet the needs of the battered Gazan community in the face of a largely demolished healthcare system.
With the danger from airstrikes currently over, more people will be able to access the hospital and its outreach clinics to seek treatment, so demand for its services is likely to rise.
18 JANUARY
17 JANUARY
Update from the West Bank
Our colleague David is in the West Bank, visiting some of our partners. He sent us this update:
“In the West Bank our partners welcomed the news of the ceasefire with joy. They are relieved that the killing will end and that there will be some safety for their brothers and sisters and all the people of Gaza.
“They are also aware that now is when a lot of the work starts. Partners are busy and actively planning how they will respond. The magnitude of the need will become increasingly clear in the coming weeks. There are thousands injured, millions displaced and a traumatised population.
“Along with the joy there is also concern about what the future holds for the West Bank. The West Bank remains in crisis and the ceasefire in Gaza will not change the situation here. There is concern that military actions may increase and continue the pattern of escalation that has been seen in West Bank for the past 16 months. The intensity of the occupation continues to increase and the ceasefire needs to be just one step on the path towards a just peace.”
16 JANUARY
Response from our partner Caritas Jerusalem to the news of a Gaza ceasefire deal
Response from church leaders in Jerusalem to Gaza ceasefire deal
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land (which is made up of leaders of the Latin, Melkite, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian and Chaldean churches and the Custody of the Holy Land), released a statement in which they said:
“… We hope that this ceasefire will mark an important end to the violence that has caused immeasurable suffering. It is a necessary step to halt the destruction and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of countless families affected by the conflict.
“However, we are aware that the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict. It is therefore necessary to seriously and credibly address the deep-rooted issues that have been at the root of this conflict for far too long. Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved through a just solution that addresses the origin of this long-standing struggle. This requires a long process, a willingness to acknowledge each other’s suffering and a focused education in trust that leads to overcoming fear of the other and the justification of violence as a political tool…”
You can read their statement in full on their website.
Embrace’s response to the news of a ceasefire deal in Gaza
The temporary ceasefire is good news, but it is only the beginning, not the end. We remember all those who have been left dead or wounded, who have lost loved ones and all their possessions. We are deeply grateful for the courage and strength of our church partners who have carried on serving others in the most awful of circumstances, providing healthcare, psychological support and emergency provisions. We continue to call for lasting peace and an end to the violence. We call for the recognition of all Palestinians’ rights, an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and full accountability for all violations of international law since 7 October 2023.
Embrace the Middle East has joined with 17 other charities and NGOs in issuing a joint statement calling on the UK Government to ensure that this pause turns rapidly into a permanent ceasefire and that it is the impetus to bring to an end the Israeli authorities’ occupation and oppression of Palestinians. You can READ THE STATEMENT HERE
15 JANUARY
STEADFAST SERVICE CONTINUES AT AL AHLI HOSPITAL AND CLINIC
14 JANUARY
2 JANUARY
Strike on Al Ahli Hospital
We are distressed to hear about the strike on our partner, Al Ahli Hospital, in Gaza, on 29 December 2024. Healthcare facilities should not be targets of war, and any attack on them constitutes violations of international law. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has released the following statement about the strike:
“On the morning of the Feast of the Holy Family, December 29, 2024, our Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was attacked again by an Israeli artillery shell which resulted in the destruction of a doctor’s clinic on the top floor of the Diagnostic Center Building at the west end, near the hospital compound. The affected building is currently functioning as the Chemotherapy Treatment Center in a partnership between Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza, and Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem.
The Diocese of Jerusalem, owner and manager of Ahli Arab Hospital, condemns this attack and other attacks on the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip, especially in the North. We call upon all warring parties to reach a ceasefire immediately and come to an agreement for the sake of all innocent victims of this war.”
CRISIS APPEAL
Please support our partners as they respond to the crisis in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.
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