Anglican Missions has written a letter to Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the targeting and killing of healthcare and religious institutions and individuals in Gaza. You can read the full text of the letter below:
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Rt. Hon. Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
21 July 2025
Subject: Violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza and Urgent Need for Protection of Medical and Religious Institutions
Dear Minister Peters,
I write on behalf of Anglican Missions with deep sorrow and grave urgency following two unconscionable acts in Gaza that took place last week. The first was the targeted killing of Dr. Ahmad Attallah Qandil, a surgeon at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital; and the second was the bombing of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, which served as a shelter for hundreds of displaced persons, including children and people with disabilities.
These incidents, one targeting a humanitarian health worker, the other a sacred space of refuge, violate not only international humanitarian law but the most basic principles of human dignity and protection of the vulnerable.
Dr. Ahmad Qandil, a committed and compassionate surgeon at the Anglican Al Ahli Arab Hospital, was killed by an Israeli drone strike on 14 July as he returned home from a surgical shift. This marks the ninth time the staff or facilities of Al Ahli have been targeted. Dr Qandil joins over 1,500 healthcare workers who have died in this conflict.
The Catholic Church of the Holy Family, a parish sheltering over 600 displaced people, including 54 with special needs, was bombed on 17 July leading to casualties and destruction. The bombing forced the evacuation of people with disabilities, some of whom were unable to access vital
respiratory equipment. Both acts are grave violations of the sanctity of life and the protected status of religious and medical institutions in conflict.
Anglican Missions calls on the Government of New Zealand to:
- Publicly condemn the killing of Dr. Qandil and the bombing of the Holy Family Church;
- Advocate urgently through diplomatic channels, multilateral forums, and UN bodies for the protection of medical workers, religious sites, and humanitarian centres in Gaza;
- Insist on accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, including through support for independent investigations; and
- Support the restoration of functional deconfliction mechanisms that ensure the safety of aid workers and the sanctity of humanitarian and religious spaces.
New Zealand has a proud history of defending the laws and norms that protect civilians, uphold the dignity of all people, and guard the freedom of religion and humanitarian service. That moral leadership is urgently needed now – not just for these two incidents, but for all those who continue to selflessly serve others under fire.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Michael Hartfield
National Director – Anglican Missions
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