The Sovereign Order of Malta “joins others in calling for a cessation of all acts of violence that breach international law and humanitarian principles” and “stands ready to offer its full support to reconstruction and development efforts across the Palestinian territories”. This was stated by Brien Purcell Horan, Chargé d’Affaires at the Permanent Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations, addressing the United Nations High-Level International Conference (28-30 July) on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution”, promoted by France and Saudi Arabia.
“We urgently call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the unimpeded and sustained delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza,” reiterated Purcell Horan on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta. “Humanitarian organisations must be granted access to provide assistance without obstruction, under clear guarantees of safety and security, both for the affected civilian population and for the personnel delivering life-saving aid, in accordance with international law.”
At the moment, the Order of Malta’s humanitarian activities in Palestine are focused on the aid project in Gaza City carried out through Malteser International, in collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Family parish in Gaza, which was recently hit by a raid. Since May 2024, 200 tons of food have been delivered to over 25,000 civilians, and the opening of a healthcare point for the local community is being considered.
“The scale of human suffering has become unimaginable. The images we continue to witness daily, of infants and children so severely malnourished they appear skeletal, unable even to cry, are a stark indicator of desperate urgency. This must not be allowed to continue,” said Purcell Horan, adding that “our duty is clear: to ensure that the most vulnerable are not forgotten as the world works toward a peaceful and sustainable solution.”
Beyond the aid project in Gaza City, there is also the work of the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, that has been providing high-quality mother and child care in the West Bank since 1990. The hospital is the only facility in the region that can handle premature births, thanks to an 18-bed neonatal intensive care unit. This makes it a point of reference for all pregnant women in the area, particularly those who need specialized care. With Muslim and Christian doctors, midwives and nurses, the staff guarantees a service without distinctions of belief or social condition, offering assistance at reduced cost or completely free of charge.
