Missile attack kills patient in church-run hospital
by Jeremy Halcrow
An Israeli missile that hit St Philip’s Church in Gaza and damaged the Anglican-run hospital next door has turned attention on the plight of Palestinian Christians. Nearly all Christian in the Holy Land are Palestinians.
One hospital patient died as a result of the Israeli attack, which caused extensive damage to the church.
Senior Anglican officials in the region have accused the Israeli army of targeting the mission. An Israeli military spokesperson denied this was the case.
Assistant Bishop of Perth, David Murray, wrote to the Israeli Ambassador on behalf of Australian financial supporters of the ministry, which include ABM. While acknowledging the Israeli claim that the missile had malfunctioned, he questioned ‘the morality of firing missiles into the most densely populated area on earth’.
“At the time of writing the hospital authorities, the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East have not received an apology from the Israel Defence Force. We believe that this is quite wrong and protest strongly about the way this incident has been mishandled. Basic compassion and respect for humanity dictates an apology and reparation to the hospital authorities and the Anglican Church.”
The Dean of Jerusalem, Ross Jones, who was in Australia last month to raise funds for the ministry of St George’s College in Jerusalem also condemned the attack.
He urged Christians in Sydney to make contact with Christians in Palestine.
“They feel the worldwide Church has neglected them,” he said. “American evangelicals pour a huge amount of money into bankrolling the State of Israel, believing it will hasten the second coming of Christ. US dollars feed the conflict.”
The Diocese of Jerusalem has 31 congregations, and of these only the church in Amman, Jordan, is financially viable.
“The Palestinian economy has been shattered by this conflict. Even those Palestinians who have been allowed work permits find that their employment is erratic.”
A Palestinian must be 30 years old to receive a work permit which only lasts one month. Unemployment in the West Bank is 60 per cent.
“Occupation breeds violence,” said Dean Jones reflecting on two and half years he and his wife have spent in Jerusalem. “We knew that before we went to Jerusalem. But we still had no idea how inhuman people can be. It has been over two years since my barber has been allowed to visit his family in Ramallah.”
“Whole families are being psychologically damaged by being forced to stay inside their homes 24 hours a day because of the curfew conditions.”
A report called Losing Ground released last month by Christian Aid into the situation facing Palestinians found that Israeli occupation is the prime cause of the conflict. Spokesperson, Clare Short, called on the international community to intervene, saying solving the crisis should be treated on par with disarming Saddam Hussein.
