
The Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in the south of Gaza City, Palestine, and is managed by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. Founded in 1882, it is one of the oldest hospitals in the city and the only Christian hospital in Gaza. The hospital has faced various challenges, including Israeli attacks, and has been the subject of archaeological discussions due to its current state of ruins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital (Arabic: المستشفى الأهلي العربي المعمداني) |
| Alternative names | The Arab Baptist National Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Gaza Baptist Hospital (Arabic: المستشفى المعمداني) |
| Location | Zeitoun neighborhood, Gaza City, Palestine |
| Management | Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem |
| Year founded | 1882 |
| Type | Christian hospital, the only one in Gaza |
| History | Established in the Ottoman Empire as a medical mission of the Anglican Church 's Church Missionary Society (CMS); purchased by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1954; sustained damage during the Six-Day War in 1967; renamed Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in 1987; damaged by Israeli rockets in October 2023 |
| Capacity | 60 beds |
| Current status | Operational, facing challenges including medicine, fuel, and food shortages |
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What You'll Learn
- Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, also known as Gaza Baptist Hospital, is located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City
- The hospital has been in operation since 1882 and is one of the oldest in the city
- It was founded by Anglican missionaries and was purchased by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1954
- The hospital has faced challenges due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including damage from bombings and shelling
- The Gaza Baptist Church is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip and has faced violence and travel restrictions

Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, also known as Gaza Baptist Hospital, is located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City
The hospital is currently managed by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and is the only Christian hospital in Gaza. It has faced many challenges over the years, including heightened anti-Christian sentiment and violence. In 1980, an assassination attempt was made on the acting hospital director by the Muslim Brotherhood, and in 1989, a Palestinian threw two hand grenades, killing three people and injuring others. The hospital was also impacted by the First and Second Intifadas, serving as a frontline hospital for casualties.
In 2023, the hospital's Diagnostic Cancer Treatment Centre was damaged by Israeli rockets, injuring staff members and causing severe damage to the building. Later that year, on 17 October, an explosion took place in the hospital's courtyard during the Gaza war, resulting in a large number of casualties. The cause of the explosion is contested, with some attributing it to a failed rocket launch from within Gaza, while others dispute this claim. Despite the immense challenges, the hospital continues to operate and provide essential care to patients in Gaza.
Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital has played a crucial role in providing medical care to the community in Gaza City. Its history reflects the complex political and religious landscape of the region, and the hospital has persevered through various conflicts and challenges to serve those in need.
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The hospital has been in operation since 1882 and is one of the oldest in the city
Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, commonly known as the Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in the south of Gaza City, Palestine. The hospital has been in operation since 1882 and is one of the oldest in the city. It was established in what was then the Ottoman Empire as a medical mission of the Anglican Church's Church Missionary Society (CMS) following the Anglo-Egyptian War.
The hospital was founded by Anglican missionaries and was initially called the Arab Baptist National Hospital. In 1954, the hospital was purchased by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, which renamed it the Gaza Baptist Hospital. The hospital has a rich history and has played a significant role in providing medical care to the people of Gaza for over a century.
Despite the challenges and conflicts in the region, the hospital has remained a dedicated medical facility, providing essential care to those in need. The hospital has faced damage and bombings over the years, with reports of an explosion in the courtyard in October 2023, resulting in casualties and displacement. The hospital has also been impacted by Israel's blockade of Gaza, which has led to increased desperation and suffering among the people.
The Baptist Hospital is the only Christian hospital in Gaza and has a capacity of 60 beds. However, during challenging times, such as the ongoing war, the hospital has accommodated up to 80-100 inpatients. The dedicated staff at the hospital work tirelessly to provide medical care, even amidst medicine, fuel, and food shortages.
The hospital's resilience and longevity in the face of adversity are a testament to the dedication of its staff and the importance of its role in the community. The Baptist Hospital continues to serve the people of Gaza, providing hope and healing despite the difficult circumstances.
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It was founded by Anglican missionaries and was purchased by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1954
Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in the south of Gaza City, Palestine. The hospital was founded in 1882 by Anglican missionaries and was initially established as a medical mission of the Anglican Church's Church Missionary Society (CMS) following the Anglo-Egyptian War. In 1954, the hospital was purchased by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, which renamed it the Gaza Baptist Hospital.
The hospital has a long history and is one of the oldest in the city, operating continuously since its founding. It is also the only Christian hospital in Gaza. The purchase by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1954 marked a significant change in the hospital's administration and name. The new owners administered care at the hospital for three decades after their acquisition. Despite proselytism being illegal in Gaza, the Southern Baptist Convention's missionaries saw their work as an opportunity for evangelism. They opened Gaza's only nursing school with missions in mind.
The hospital has played a crucial role in treating Palestinians injured in various incidents, including the 1956 Suez Crisis. During Egypt's governance of Gaza from 1957 to 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser visited the hospital to express his appreciation for its contributions. The hospital demonstrated remarkable resilience during the Six-Day War in 1967, continuing to operate despite being surrounded by intense firefights. It sustained damage, including broken windows and collapsed walls, and one staffer was injured.
In more recent times, the hospital has faced significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict and violence in the region. It has been a target of attacks and bombings, with an explosion occurring in its courtyard in October 2023, resulting in numerous casualties. The hospital has also dealt with severe medicine, fuel, and food shortages. Despite these difficulties, the hospital remains operational and committed to providing essential care to those in need.
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The hospital has faced challenges due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including damage from bombings and shelling
Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is one of the oldest hospitals in the city, having been in operation since 1882. The hospital has faced significant challenges due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including damage from bombings, shelling, and firefights.
On 17 October 2023, an explosion took place in the hospital's courtyard during the Gaza war, resulting in a large number of casualties. The cause of the explosion is contested. While some sources attributed it to a failed rocket launch from within Gaza, others suggested an Israeli airstrike or bombardment. The hospital's Diagnostic Cancer Treatment Centre was damaged by Israeli rockets in October 2023, injuring staff and causing severe damage to the upper floors.
The hospital has also been impacted by Israel's blockade of Gaza, which has resulted in increased poverty, suffering, and medical equipment shortages. The building's height made it a target for Fatah and Hamas troops during the Fatah-Hamas conflict, and staff members were caught in the crossfire. The ongoing violence and travel restrictions have forced the Church's leadership, including its pastor, into exile.
The Baptist Hospital has a long history of providing medical care in challenging circumstances. During the Suez Crisis in 1956 and Egypt's governance of Gaza from 1957 to 1967, the hospital treated injured Palestinians. Despite being surrounded by firefights during the Six-Day War in 1967, it remained operational, with staff even setting up additional beds in the Gaza Baptist Church.
The hospital continues to face immense challenges due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including severe medicine, fuel, and food shortages. Despite these difficulties, the hospital remains committed to providing essential care to those in need.
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The Gaza Baptist Church is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip and has faced violence and travel restrictions
The Gaza Baptist Church is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip. The other two are the Catholic Church of the Holy Family and the Eastern Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius. The church building is six stories tall and has a dedicated public library, which serves both Christian and non-Christian books. The church also opened Gaza's first public Christian library in 2006.
The church has faced violence and travel restrictions due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2008, the church was partially destroyed during Israeli bombings, after which the church's pastor and many of its congregation fled the Gaza Strip. The church has also been repeatedly commandeered by Fatah and Hamas troops as an observation post during the Fatah-Hamas conflict, resulting in staff being caught in the crossfire. In one instance, a church librarian was hit by gunfire during a firefight, and in another, the church bus driver was killed. In October 2007, one of the church's leaders, Rami Ayyad, was kidnapped, publicly beaten, and murdered by unidentified militants.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to increased desperation, hopelessness, poverty, and suffering among the people. It has also resulted in a higher cost of living and shortages of medical equipment and supplies. The church's leadership, including its pastor, still lives in exile due to ongoing violence and travel restrictions.
The Baptist Hospital in Gaza, also known as Al-Ahli Arab Hospital or Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, is a separate entity from the Gaza Baptist Church. The hospital is located in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City and is managed by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. It was founded in 1882 and is one of the oldest hospitals in the city. While it has been damaged and affected by the conflict, it continues to provide essential care to patients.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, usually called the Baptist Hospital, is a hospital in the Gaza Strip. It is one of the oldest hospitals in the city and the only Christian hospital in Gaza.
The Baptist Hospital in Gaza was founded in 1882 as a medical mission of the Anglican Church's Church Missionary Society (CMS) following the Anglo-Egyptian War.
The Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza is managed by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. It was previously run by the Southern Baptist Convention from 1954 to 1987.
Yes, the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital has been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In October 2023, an explosion in the hospital's courtyard resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of displaced Palestinians seeking shelter there. The hospital has also faced medicine, fuel, and food shortages, and has had to temporarily relocate patients due to Israeli bombardment in the surrounding areas.











































