Medics in Gaza risking their lives to save people hurt by Israel's war

Al Jazeera’s feature looks at the Palestinian and foreign medics who kept Gaza’s remaining hospitals working in May 2024. It was published after Israel took control of the Rafah crossing to Egypt, which left hundreds of medics unable to leave. It describes hospitals short of medicines and supplies, medical students filling gaps and foreign volunteers who could not leave or arrive.

Dr. Mosab Nasser is one of those profiled. Al Jazeera says he left Gaza nearly 30 years ago to study medicine and returned in April as CEO of Fajr Scientific, a non-profit that sends volunteer surgeons to conflict zones. He and his team of 17 surgeons were working at the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis.

After the crossing closed, the team was stuck for several days. Most of them, US and UK nationals, left through the Kerem Shalom crossing after coordinating with their embassies, and Dr. Nasser, a US citizen, left too. Two team members, an Egyptian and an Omani doctor, had to stay behind because their countries could not arrange their evacuation. They were waiting for the WHO to organize their departure.

Days before leaving, Dr. Nasser said: “We know it will be tough leaving the people of Gaza and the [Palestinian hospital] staff to face the crisis alone.” He predicted that the European Hospital would be overwhelmed with casualties if Israel expanded its operations.

For FAJR’s work, the article records what a surgical mission looked like in Gaza in spring 2024, and how it ended.

Read the full story on Al Jazeera.