A doctor who recently volunteered at a hospital in southern Gaza has described the scenes he witnessed as “apocalyptic”. Dr. Adil Husain, an American emergency medicine physician, spent two weeks at the Nasser Hospital near one of the four food aid distribution sites set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The foundation, funded by the US and Israeli governments, began distributing boxes of food in late May. However, the scenes at the food aid distribution sites have been chaotic, with over 400 Palestinians killed, according to the UN. Dr. Husain witnessed nearly every single day being a mass casualty incident, with most deaths occurring shortly after the opening of the food aid distribution sites.
The most frequent injuries were gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and abdomen, primarily targeting young boys and men. Many patients had empty bags under their shirts and in their pants that they hoped to fill with food, which only left them with life-threatening injuries.
Dr. Husain recounted a particularly heartbreaking case of a 10-year-old boy who was shot through the face, neck, and spine, leaving him paralyzed. He also treated a pregnant woman whose bullet-wounded abdomen led to her losing the fetus and requiring a hysterectomy.
Despite the dire situation, Palestinians remain hopeful, citing God’s justice as their motivation for enduring the suffering. However, many express frustration with neighboring countries’ inaction and criticism of Israel.
As a father of a young child, Dr. Husain finds the pediatric cases particularly haunting, highlighting the unnatural amount of death among children. The lack of baby formula and severe malnutrition are also stark reminders of the manmade nature of starvation in Gaza.
Dr. Husain’s account provides a poignant glimpse into the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for change and international action to address this situation.
Source: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/07/01/gaza-doctor-aid