British Doctor in Gaza Wakes to the Sound of Explosions

A surgeon from the UK who was on a charity trip to Gaza has shared his experience of having to cancel all his scheduled operations due to constant shelling from Israel. Dr. Abdul Qadir Hammad was in Gaza with the Liverpool International Transplant Initiative, an organization that provides medical assistance to those who do not have access to critical healthcare. He was planning to perform surgery on Saturday, but unfortunately, this was the same day when Hamas militants launched an attack in Israel, prompting Israeli air attacks on Gaza in retaliation. Dr. Hammad recalls that there were no signs of trouble on Friday when he visited Al-Shifa hospital, the largest public healthcare facility in the Gaza Strip, to check on his patients. He has been visiting Gaza for many years to provide medical aid and support. However, the situation drastically changed on Saturday morning when he woke up to the sound of explosions. He immediately contacted the hospital director to inquire about the safety of performing surgeries, and was initially assured that it would be okay. However, within 20 minutes, he realized from the news that it was not safe, and they had to cancel all the operations. Concerned for his safety, he eventually sought guidance from the World Health Organisation, who advised him to leave the hotel as it was unsafe. Dr. Hammad, along with around 20 other foreign nationals, is currently staying at a UN facility in Gaza since Sunday. He described the continuous airstrikes and shelling that have been taking place, expressing worry about the impact it will have on the civilian population and hospitals, with essential supplies of electricity, food, and water being cut off. While human rights and aid organizations have criticized Hamas for their indiscriminate attack, they have also raised concerns about Israel restricting vital supplies from entering Gaza. Dr. Hammad emphasized the severe consequences for patients suffering from kidney failure in Gaza, stating that kidney transplants are lifesaving for them. He also expressed concern for his own safety and his family back in the UK. Leaving Gaza and crossing into Israel was deemed difficult due to the conflict, and the only viable option for them is negotiating a safe passage to Egypt with both the Israeli and Egyptian authorities, according to a UN official. Although the facility where Dr. Hammad is currently staying is relatively safe and equipped with essential provisions, he worries about the people in Gaza who lack access to basic necessities. He also reflected on the irony of his mission in Gaza, which is to save lives through kidney transplants while witnessing the ease with which thousands of lives can be taken in just a couple of days. Dr. Hammad expressed frustration, questioning the purpose of his efforts in such dire circumstances.