Church leaders in Jerusalem urge Israel to let children with leukemia from Gaza receive life-saving treatment at Augusta Victoria Hospital.
Newsroom (18/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem have issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to Israeli authorities, asking for permission to transfer children in Gaza suffering from leukemia to the Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives for specialized care. The appeal, released on December 17, calls for immediate action to allow the young patients to access treatment unavailable in Gaza.
In their statement, the church leaders emphasized Augusta Victoria Hospital’s readiness to handle the entire process—from transportation to full medical care and post-recovery return of the children to their homes in Gaza. “We make this appeal on humanitarian grounds,” they declared, describing the situation as both urgent and preventable. The hospital, they noted, would bear all costs, ensuring “no burden on the Israeli government for any cost.”
The patriarchs underscored the critical importance of timely intervention, explaining that prompt treatment is essential for favorable outcomes in leukemia cases. “The treatment for this disease is not available in Gaza,” their statement read, “and it has the potential to transform the lives of those afflicted with it.”
The appeal concludes with a plea to Israeli authorities to permit the transfer without delay. “We therefore hope very much that the responsible authorities will see fit that these patients receive the medically necessary care that the excellent facilities of Augusta Victoria Hospital can provide,” the leaders wrote. “These children can then begin their journeys to recovery and health.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Fides News
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