After surviving the first deadly explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on October 17, 2023, it became obvious to British-Palestinian reconstructive surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah that “the destruction and the systematic dismantlement of the health system was going to be a central tenet of the Israeli military doctrine”.
In an exclusive conversation with Newslaundry, Dr Abu-Sittah said Israel “has been intentionally wiping out a whole generation of medical professionals”.
Speaking from Beirut, where a day full of surgeries awaited him, Dr Abu-Sittah is still keen on returning to Gaza, where he volunteered for months attending those wounded. “The reason I am not back in Gaza is because I, like all doctors of Palestinian origin, were prevented from entering since the Israelis took control of Rafah border”.
Recalling the challenges his colleagues and he faced in Gaza, Dr Abu-Sittah said, “The issue in the system was not the lack of surgeons, the Israelis prevented the delivery of medication, surgical consumables and fuel for the operating (theatre).”
He maintained that it was the western media that first “enabled the creation of an atmosphere that justified the creation of the genocidal war” and then “watered down the news and horrors coming out (of Gaza) to protect the genocide and to stop the political backlash that existed”.
Dr Abu-Sittah, who has volunteered to treat patients in several conflicts, also accused Israel of primarily and solely targeting people’s homes, resulting in a disproportionate number of children being wounded in the war. “With the progress of the war and the use of famine as one of the tools in this genocide, you started to see malnutrition in these children…which means there bodies cannot heal after the injuries, or their bodies cannot do well after the surgeries,” he said.
Watch the full interview to know what the doctor has to say about his time in Gaza.
Muneef Khan is a Delhi-based independent journalist.
In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
