As a trauma surgeon, I have had the privilege of working in many challenging environments, but nothing could have prepared me for the heart-wrenching experience of volunteering in Gaza. Over the course of nearly two weeks, I worked alongside a dedicated team of Canadian and American doctors, coordinated by the World Health Organization and Rahma Worldwide, to address the overwhelming humanitarian crisis that has gripped this region.
As a trauma surgeon, I have had the privilege of working in many challenging environments, but nothing could have prepared me for the heart-wrenching experience of volunteering in Gaza. Over the course of nearly two weeks, I worked alongside a dedicated team of Canadian and American doctors, coordinated by the World Health Organization and Rahma Worldwide, to address the overwhelming humanitarian crisis that has gripped this region.
The Gaza Strip is a place where the thunder of explosions is a constant backdrop, and every decision from the ED to the operating room can mean life or death. With the health-care system in a state of collapse, we often faced the agonizing choice of whom to save with our limited resources. Many of our patients were young children with life-altering injuries, and seeing them die before our eyes was one of the hardest things I have ever had to endure.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 40,000 people directly —more than two-thirds of them women and children—has created apocalyptic conditions, as described by several UN experts. Despite the dire need for medical aid, Israeli authorities continue to make it almost impossible for aid workers and health professionals to operate in Gaza. The Lancet recently highlighted this crisis in its latest article, "Healthcare in Gaza: A Crisis of Human Rights," underscoring the urgent need for unfettered access to humanitarian missions and demonstrating how the real death toll is much higher than the figures counted, before it became impossible to count.
During my two missions in Gaza, we operated out of two hospitals in Khan Younis, often treating victims of airstrikes suffering from trauma to their head or limbs. One particular incident stands out in my memory: an air raid struck a building near our hospital, and within moments, we were inundated with 15 injured children, women, and men. It was heartbreaking to know that we could not treat everyone, even those who still had a pulse.
Yet, amidst the suffering, there were moments of hope. I will never forget the eight-year-old boy who needed heart surgery after an airstrike hit his house. With my fellow Canadian surgeon, Dr. Amgad Elsharif, we managed to revive him and remove shrapnel from his heart—a feat that would have been challenging even in a well-equipped Canadian hospital. The boy's family, in their gratitude, brought us fruit juice—a rare commodity in Gaza, highlighting the severe shortages caused by the blockade.
The conditions in Gaza are dire beyond compare. Many doctors have been unable to leave their hospitals for months, and resources such as antibiotics are scarce. The ongoing blockade and the destruction wrought by continuous airstrikes have left the healthcare system in ruins. Unlike in other conflict zones where patients could be transferred to safer areas, in Gaza, there is no escape. This isolation has led to higher casualties and more deaths.
Beyond the hospital walls, the scenes in Khan Younis were equally devastating. Entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, streets lined with plastic tents sheltering displaced families, and the constant sound of bombings at night created an atmosphere of despair. Ambulances could not operate after dark for fear of being targeted, leaving many to succumb to their injuries by morning.
The rapid spread of disease, particularly among children, has compounded the crisis. The overcrowded and unhygienic conditions in UN shelters have led to outbreaks of respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes, and meningitis. Every Palestinian I met had lost family members to the conflict, underscoring the pervasive nature of the tragedy.
Western nations, including Canada, have supported Israel's “right to defend itself” following Oct 7th. However, as the death toll in Gaza rises, there is a growing realisation that what we are witnessing is a genocide. If the conservative estimates in the recent article in the British Lancet are accurate, we are looking at talking about 10% of Gaza population killed. Our Politicians must call for and support an immediate ceasefire. The Lancet's recent article provides a stark reminder of the human cost of this conflict and the urgent need for international action.
As Canadian medical professionals, we are committed to saving lives and alleviating suffering. However, our ability to do so is severely hindered by the restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. The international community must advocate for unfettered access to Gaza for humanitarian missions and medical aid. The lives of countless civilians, including children, depend on it.
Let us remember that behind every statistic is a human life—a child, a parent, a friend. We must come together to demand an end to the war and ensure that medical aid reaches those who need it most. It is not just a matter of politics; it is a matter of humanity.
*Call to Action*
To my fellow Arab, Muslim, and conscientious medical professionals in Canada, it is time to break the silence. Silence in the face of genocide is complicity. I urge you to take action and demand that our professional bodies, like the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), advocate for unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza.
*You can either sign this petition:* or below is a drafted email you can use to *contact the CMA at* [email protected] Let us unite our voices to bring about change and save lives.
Subject: Urgent Action Required: Advocate for Humanitarian Access to Gaza
Dear [Recipient's Name],
As medical professionals dedicated to saving lives and alleviating suffering, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The recent conflict has resulted in catastrophic conditions, with over 40,000 people killed, many of them women and children. The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, and the blockade imposed by Israeli authorities is preventing essential medical aid from reaching those in need.
The Lancet's recent article, "Healthcare in Gaza: A Crisis of Human Rights," highlights the urgent need for unfettered access to humanitarian missions. As members of the Canadian Medical Association, we have a moral and professional obligation to advocate for the health and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their location or circumstances.
We urge the CMA to take a stand and call for immediate action to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach Gaza without obstruction. We cannot remain silent while innocent lives are lost. Our collective voice can make a difference.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Contact Information]
Let us remember that our commitment to humanity transcends borders. Together, we can make a difference.
Dr. Anas Al-Kassem
Founder & Vice Chair
UOSSM Canada.
