A Moroccan surgeon recounts his experiences working in Gaza amidst heavy bombardment and the overwhelming pressure on medical staff during the ongoing conflict.
Moroccan surgeon Youssef Bou Abdullah shared his harrowing experiences of two humanitarian medical missions in Gaza during the Israeli genocide. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he emphasized how medicine became an act of resilience and surgery a struggle for life amidst relentless violence. Bou Abdullah's first mission took place in 2024 at Kamal Adwan Hospital, followed by a second mission lasting nearly two months at the Indonesian Hospital, both marked by chaos and overwhelming need for medical care.
The conditions within the hospitals were dire, with facilities overcrowded and a continuous influx of injured patients requiring urgent attention. Bou Abdullah described working under direct bombardment, with rockets falling dangerously close to the operating rooms. He noted the collective fear that pervaded the atmosphere; however, the sight of wounded children provided an inexplicable strength to the medical teams to continue their essential work despite the relentless terror and exhaustion.
One particularly haunting memory for Bou Abdullah was the assassination of Marwan Sultan, the director of the Indonesian Hospital, whose smile he encountered daily. This loss, along with many others, left an indelible mark on Bou Abdullah, illustrating the profound personal and professional sacrifices made by medical personnel in conflict zones. His narrative highlights not only the brutality faced by those in Gaza but also the unwavering dedication of healthcare workers committed to saving lives against overwhelming odds.
