Rome – To emphasize the Order of Malta’s support of the Palestinian population and the continuation of its humanitarian operations in Palestine. This was the message of the Order of Malta’s Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, who today received the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen, for a working visit to Rome.
A note from the Order explains that during the meeting, the Grand Chancellor stressed the importance of continuing to support the Palestinian people, particularly the citizens of Gaza City, by setting up a health centre, and reaffirmed his willingness to protect the Order’s existing humanitarian activities. The Minister for Foreign Affairs said the Palestinian Government was extremely grateful for the Order of Malta’s support of the population.
Currently, the Order of Malta’s humanitarian activities in Palestine focus on the aid project in Gaza City carried out in cooperation with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the recently raided Holy Family Church in Gaza. Since May 2024, 200 tons of food have been delivered to over 25,000 civilians, and the opening of the healthcare center for the local community is actually on the agenda. The Order of Malta also continues to support the logistical aspects of the food distribution by the Patriarchate.
The Order of Malta’s primary activity is its Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, which has provided high-quality maternal and child care in the West Bank since 1990. Since it is the only centre in the region able to handle premature births, thanks to an 18-bed neonatal intensive care unit, it is a point of reference for all pregnant women in the area, particularly those in need of specialized care. With Muslim and Christian doctors, midwives, and nurses, the staff guarantees a service without distinction of belief or social condition, offering care at reduced cost or completely free of charge.
Also in the West Bank, the Order of Malta stands alongside the population, providing mobile clinics and distributing vouchers for basic necessities, as well as microcredit initiatives and health training activities.
In July, the Sovereign Order of Malta participated in the United Nations high-level conference in New York (28-30 July) on the “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. On this occasion, the Order reaffirmed the need for “a cessation of all acts of violence that breach international law and humanitarian principles.” It said it was “ready to offer its full support to reconstruction and development efforts across the Palestinian territories.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
