In Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital, chaos unfolded as Dr. Nada Abu Al-Rub navigated through the corridors attending to patients. Among them was a young boy who had lost a leg and sustained burns all over his body following an explosion near him and his brother. Al-Rub treated his injuries using the last available gauze and salt water since the department had run out of supplies. Moving through the hospital, she encountered steel beds, some without mattresses, occupied by patients and their families awaiting medical attention.
Another patient, an elderly man, arrived with severe internal injuries after his home was bombed, including a shredded liver, rectal injury, and fractured leg bones stabilized with protruding steel spokes. Al-Rub, an Australian volunteer with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, expressed shock at the dire conditions in Gaza City, describing it as beyond anything she had ever imagined.
Amid the ongoing conflict, medical staff at Al-Shifa and other hospitals in Gaza have been tirelessly treating war victims, often under siege and heavy bombardment. International volunteer healthcare professionals have joined local medical teams to provide support. At Al-Shifa, aside from patients, the hospital has become a refuge for many others seeking safety from the war, with every corner filled with either patients or displaced individuals.
The injuries treated by Al-Rub are complex and often involve brain trauma, with the hospital’s diagnostic equipment destroyed. Due to limited resources, difficult decisions on patient prioritization have been made by the medical team. Despite the challenging circumstances, doctors strive to save lives by providing necessary interventions such as blood transfusions and limb-saving measures.
As Al-Rub stepped into the hospital courtyard, the destruction from airstrikes was evident, with adjacent buildings reduced to rubble. The ongoing conflict has led to allegations by Israel that hospitals are being used by Hamas for military purposes, a claim denied by the group. Recent escalations in the conflict have resulted in multiple hospitals being forced to cease operations, exacerbating an already strained healthcare system in Gaza.
Returning to the hospital wards, Al-Rub continued attending to patients with the limited resources available. Despite the overwhelming challenges, she remains hopeful for peace to bring an end to the suffering and devastation inflicted on the people of Gaza. The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians and healthcare facilities, with international organizations reporting numerous attacks on healthcare facilities in the region.
