Supporting neonatal and infant healthcare in Gaza
In June 2024, after spending considerable time assessing options and carrying out extensive due diligence, we began working with a trusted global humanitarian responder to support healthcare services for women and babies in Gaza, through field hospitals.
Our partner provides critical maternal and neonatal health services at their field hospitals in Gaza, and with our support were able to fund gynaecologists, paediatricians and paediatric specialists working with women and children. Throughout the course of our partnership, our trusted partner was able to provide specialised care to newborns, support mothers with antenatal and postnatal care, treat children experiencing malnutrition, respiratory infections and other health conditions, and vaccinate children against polio.
Our partner vets and hires all its own staff and does not use Gazan Ministry of Health staff in their field hospitals. They also do not treat armed combatants. All staff on the ground must go through a level of security checks to meet government funding requirements.
This work was done with the encouragement and support of COGAT, which was emphasised by Colonel Elad Goren, Head of Civil Affairs at COGAT, on an exclusive webinar for our supporters.
When asked what it meant to have a Jewish organisation, like World Jewish Relief, contribute to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, Colonel Goren told listeners on the webinar that the support of the Jewish community for field hospitals inside Gaza during a conflict represented everything that is beautiful in our religion and in Israel. You can read more about the webinar here.
COGAT is an arm of the Israel Defence Forces that uniquely reports directly to the Ministry of Defence, mandated to coordinate all civilian issues in Gaza and the West Bank, between the Government of Israel, the Israel Defence Forces, bi-lateral partners, international organisations, diplomats and the Palestinian Authority among other counterparts. It operates under fully approved Israeli government policy.
Since 1933, World Jewish Relief has proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with communities in crisis across the world. As the Jewish community’s humanitarian agency, we are grateful for the ongoing support of the Office of the Chief Rabbi, the United Synagogue, Masorti Judaism, Progressive Judaism, the S&P Sephardi Community, the Union of Jewish Students, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council. You can read some quotes from our communal leaders below. World Jewish Relief secured private restricted funding for this project and did not appeal for funds or use any other funds given by supporters for this work.
To learn more about our support for Israel, following the horrific October 7th attacks and more recently, missile attacks from Iran, please read here. We can only hope for better times ahead, and we yearn for a peaceful resolution for all those suffering. We know there is so much more to do in Israel and in Gaza – and we will continue to do our part.
“I am pleased to endorse the World Jewish Relief humanitarian initiative, which is deserving of all our support. I recently met the Colonel who leads COGAT, the IDF unit which has approved the agencies that World Jewish Relief will be using for their humanitarian projects in Gaza. On behalf of the Israeli government, COGAT ensures that humanitarian aid reaches the civilians who need it. I have heard first-hand how vital and complex these undertakings are.”
– Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
“These are painful times, with so many in Israel and in our own community suffering from the prolonged trauma of October 7th. But in challenging times, it is even more essential to uphold our core Jewish values and support those who need it. We are proud to stand behind World Jewish Relief’s efforts to provide vital humanitarian assistance in Gaza in cooperation with Israeli authorities. This response reflects our community’s steadfast commitment to relieving suffering wherever it is found, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
– Keith Black, Chair, The Jewish Leadership Council and Phil Rosenberg, President, Board of Deputies
“The Torah teaches us to do our utmost to prevent and alleviate the suffering of innocent people, in peace time and in war, among our fellow Jews, and among all people. For we are all created in God’s image and are all vulnerable to hunger, pain and grief.”
– Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism
“As Progressive Jews, we believe every person is created b’tzelem Elohim – in the image of God. We are proud to support World Jewish Relief’s essential humanitarian work, which reflects our deepest Jewish values: compassion, justice, and a commitment to human dignity. In a time of deep suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians, this work is not only vital – it is sacred.”
– Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism
“The Union of Jewish Students is proud to support the work of World Jewish Relief everywhere. Amid immense human suffering for Israelis and Palestinians, this vital response reflects our students’ commitment to alleviating the plight of those who are in most need in Gaza. We hope for a swift end to the war, a return of the hostages, and a lasting, secure peace.
– Louis Danker, UJS President
