The Christian Churches of Jerusalem and St. Joseph Hospital condemn the "disproportionate use" of force and "violent raid" by Israeli Police on the facility on May 13 at the end of the funeral service for journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. H B PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "All the world, and us first of all, were shocked by these images of the Israeli Police attacking those who are carrying a coffin with a body inside. We fully understand security and safety needs, but they cannot justify such an aggressive attitude." On Monday, May 15, a press conference was held on the premises of St. Joseph Hospital, the only Catholic hospital in East Jerusalem. The institution condemned the Police action "without respect for the type of place and context." JAMIL M. KOUSSA St. Joseph Hospital General Director “There was no reason for their attack. What happened is unacceptable. We are studying with H.B. the Patriarch, who is the chairman of the board, and the Sisters of St. Joseph too see the best way to continue legal action against the police”. Thirteen people were helped at the hospital following the clashes, including one of the facility's doctors who was injured by a stun grenade that went off near him. MOHAMMAD HMEIDAT Doctor - St Joseph Hospital “They suddenly attacked us and I tried to escape from them. Everyone was hurrying up, there was panic, and one of the grenades was very close to me and exploded and caused some burns on my feet”. Sr LIDA MARQUS President – St Joseph Hospital "We were very afraid, people started screaming and running away, they were terrified, so we opened all the doors to let them in. We are a hospital, we help the sick, we help everybody: Christians, Muslims, Jews. We are peacemakers." H. B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, condemned the police assault on behalf of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem, and expressed solidarity with the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, the congregation that owns the facility. H B PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "One cannot be silent. It is our duty to say, 'That's it. Enough.' The people ask us, our institutional duty also asks us to be present and to raise our voices when necessary." The representative of the papal delegation emphasized the serious violation of human rights, first and foremost that of religious freedom: Mgr TOMASZ GRYSA First Counselor - Apostolic Delegation to Jerusalem and Palestine "The fundamental agreement between the Holy See and Israel in the first article clearly says that the State of Israel is committed to respecting the right to religious freedom, and here we are dealing with a funeral procession where this right has been brutally violated." What happened is a wound for the sisters, but it does not stop the mission of the congregation and the hospital. Sr VALENTINA SALA Provincial - Congregation Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition "The hospital remains a place of peace, reconciliation and welcome. Of course, it hurts! It hurts because you can see that the context is one of conflict but the presence continues!" Read More