Oct 20, 20232 min read

Initially thought to be 500, then body count went up to 600, and 810 by yesterday night!

Some facts about Israel's bombing of the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza from Dr Swee Ang, a Malaysian and Christian who once served in the hospital during the First Intifada, and she has friends who are still working in the Hospital:

1) The hospital has been in operation since 1882 and was founded by the Church Mission Society of the Church of England. Later, the hospital was managed between 1954 and 1982 by the Medical Mission of the Southern Baptist Church, USA, and is then known as the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital. It is the only Christian Hospital in Gaza.

2) Since 1980, the hospital has been run by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and supported mainly by the Anglican Communion and other international charities and is now known as the Al Ahli Anglican Episcopal Hospital.

3) This morning the death toll reached 877 while the mainstream media tried to convince us that the Palestinians did this to themselves when the fact is that it was Israel who bombed the hospital indiscriminately. The lie by the media makes it more painful.

4) The Hospital is the only Christian Hospital in the Gaza Strip and it is so well-loved by everyone, both Muslims and Christians. There were earlier bombings elsewhere and near the hospital by Israel and large numbers of people began to take shelter in the Ahli Hospital because it is a Christian Hospital (thinking that it was a safe place). There was no other place of safety - and there was also a precious water fountain to drink from, given there was no water in Gaza now. It is in the hospital courtyard.

5) The bombs came without warning and targeted the center of the courtyard where people were taking refuge, hundreds of them. They were killed.

6) Hundreds of bodies were lying in Facetime hospital courtyard - initially thought to be 500, then body count went up to 600, and 810 by yesterday night, many children among the dead. You can see the videos clearly on Palestine TV. Not fake news.

7) We do not know whether the Hospital Director Dr Zulaiha Tarazi or the chief surgeon Dr Mahir and the faithful hospital staff who had been serving the hospital throughout their lives have survived or not.

8) Dr Swee Ang said: "I wish I can be with them at this terrible moment. Professor Ghassan Abu Sitta is now working there to help the wounded but I know he must be completely exhausted. His wife managed to Facetime him yesterday, and he has lost a lot of weight in ten days."

9) Please pray for the dead. Console the mourners and stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Do NOT despair as this is the moment we all MUST rise up, MUST speak up to protect Gaza.