Christians of the Holy Land ask Israel to save Gaza’s children with cancer

Children of Gaza. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and the heads of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem have issued a humanitarian appeal to the Israeli authorities, asking that children from the Gaza Strip suffering from leukemia be allowed to travel for life-saving medical treatment.

In a joint statement, Patriarch Theophilos and the leaders of Christian denominations request permits for the children to be transferred to Augusta Victoria Hospital, located on the Mount of Olives. The appeal emphasizes that this hospital offers specialized treatments that are unavailable in Gaza.

The statement notes that the hospital is fully prepared to take responsibility for transportation, medical treatment, and care for the young patients. After completing treatment, the children will be returned to Gaza.

It is also stressed that the treatment would impose no financial burden on the Israel, as all costs would be covered by the medical institution itself.

“We are making this appeal on purely humanitarian grounds. Treatment for this illness is not available in Gaza, yet it can change the lives of suffering children. There will be no burden and no expense for the government, as everything will be covered by the hospital,” the statement says.

Patriarch Theophilos and the leaders of other Christian denominations underline the urgency of the matter, noting that every lost day can have tragic consequences for the health of the sick children.

“As with any illness, timely medical care is crucial for a favorable outcome. We sincerely hope that the responsible authorities will find it possible to allow these patients to receive the necessary treatment that the excellent facilities of Augusta Victoria Hospital can provide, so that these children may begin a path toward recovery and life,” the appeal states.

The statement is signed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and the heads of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, who once again stress that their request is motivated solely by concern for the lives and health of the most vulnerable – children caught in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a Christmas tree was installed in Bethlehem’s main square for the first time in two years.

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