Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem is the only hospital specialized in pediatrics in Palestine. It is a fundamental pillar of the country’s pediatric healthcare system.

For decades, it has provided high-quality medical care to thousands of Palestinian children, without distinction, fulfilling its humanitarian and social mission in a context marked by great hardship and complex challenges. Today, to further strengthen its mission, the hospital is building a surgical center. This will allow surgeries to be performed directly on site, avoiding the need to transfer young patients to other facilities.

This major advancement increases the hospital’s ability to respond to emergencies and confirms Caritas Baby Hospital’s role as a fully equipped medical institution, deeply committed to the care of Palestinian children.

Ms. Raneen Al-Araj, head of Strategy and Performance Department, says: “The construction of the surgical building was a dream for our hospital. We express deep gratitude to the donors and supporters who made this dream come true. As part of our mission to improve and expand pediatric healthcare, with a specialized and qualified staff, it is essential to enhance our services—adding pediatric day surgery as one of the essential treatments for our young patients.”

Mr. Atallah Al-Araj, chief operating officer, says, “Today we celebrate the opening of the third floor of a four-story center. The basement houses technical services, including clinical engineering, medical gas distribution systems, and the electrical plant. On the ground floor are the reception and the sterilization unit, where the priority is patient safety and infection control. The operating floor will have two fully equipped surgical rooms, with dedicated preparation areas and recovery rooms. The new center will allow essential surgical procedures to be performed quickly and efficiently, directly inside the hospital. This will reduce wait times and ease the burden on families—especially considering movement restrictions and the complexity of medical referrals.”

 While Dr. Raafat Allawi, medical director, says: “With this new surgical facility, we hope to meet the growing needs of our community by offering a safe, welcoming environment for children. Our goal is to provide high-quality services in a child-friendly setting, accompanying each patient through the entire care journey—from diagnosis to medical exams, surgery when needed, and attentive, ongoing follow-up. The vision of the Custody of the Holy Land, which owns the land where the hospital stands, aligns perfectly with the mission of Caritas Baby Hospital, always committed to protecting the dignity and right to life of every child.