‘What has become of humanity?’: A UK physician who helped in Gaza condemns Israel’s lethal conflict

The situation in Gaza’s healthcare system was ‘quite challenging’ even before the war, according to a cancer surgeon at the Royal London Hospital.

A British doctor who has previously visited Gaza has expressed alarm about the current state of the enclave’s healthcare sector, which was already in jeopardy before the start of deadly Israeli attacks.

As the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 20,000, the Israeli offensive has targeted healthcare workers and facilities throughout the territory.

Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN special rapporteur on the right to health, described the Israeli attacks in early December as “a shameful war on healthcare workers.”

She called for a halt to Israel’s “unrelenting war” on the healthcare system, describing it as the “darkest time for the right to health in our lifetimes.”

Shafi Ahmed, a consultant colorectal cancer surgeon at The Royal London Hospital, condemned Israel’s deliberate targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers.

“The situation for the healthcare system (in Gaza) was pretty difficult even before the war,” Ahmed told Anadolu in an interview following a recent demonstration in London for Gaza healthcare workers.

Concerning the scarcity of supplies in hospitals and clinics, he stated that bringing in crucial equipment was difficult even before the Israeli strikes began on Oct. 7.

Ahmed stated that the Israeli strikes have murdered 260 healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and dentists, and that “that makes it very difficult for a system to survive.”

“On top of that, if you’re bombing the hospitals — and now only one-third of all hospitals in Gaza are functioning — it means the system is in meltdown and broken,” he went on to say.

“Take away two-thirds of the hospitals, how can any system survive?”

In reprisal for a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, Israel has blasted Gaza from the air and land, imposed a siege, and launched a ground offensive.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, at least 20,057 Palestinians have been killed and 53,320 have been injured as a result of Israel’s offensive.

According to official numbers, the Israeli death toll from the Hamas attack on October 7 stands at 1,200, with the Palestinian group currently holding over 130 captives in Gaza.

‘Palestinian resilience is unbroken.’

Regarding the poor situation in Gaza’s hospitals, Ahmed stated that many “horror stories” had emerged, including surgeons operating without light, relying on phone or candle light.

“We’ve seen patients who were operated on with no anesthetic and no painkillers afterward.” “There are no antibiotics because they are not available,” he explained.

“My question is, what has become of humanity?” Is this how low we’ve sunk, that we can’t provide the basic necessity of health care, treating the ill and injured, because we lack the requisite resources? I still can’t believe it.”

According to the veteran doctor, Tel Aviv intends to force Gaza into total system failure by targeting healthcare personnel.

“But what’s important is that the Palestinians’ resilience isn’t broken,” he said, hailing the willingness of health care workers to continue treating patients despite “the most difficult circumstances” that often prove fatal for them.

“So, honestly, my hat’s off to them; I have no idea what they’re going through, but I stand in solidarity with them.” I hope we can assist them in many more operations in the future.”