In the early hours of a recent day, the tranquility in Gaza was shattered by a sudden eruption of Israeli airstrikes, marking the end of a temporary ceasefire. As the missiles streaked through the sky and descended upon the city of Khan Younis, a visiting British doctor witnessed the unfolding devastation from the balcony of a local hospital. A Palestinian surgeon standing nearby could only utter words of dismay as the bombardment resumed after a two-month pause.
This renewed wave of violence sent shockwaves through the community, resulting in a harrowing 24 hours at Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza. With the surprise attack, Israel aimed to exert pressure on Hamas to release more hostages and agree to amended terms of the truce. However, the aftermath was one of the deadliest days in the ongoing 17-month conflict.
The consequences were grim, as reported by the territory’s Health Ministry: 409 people lost their lives across Gaza, among them 173 children and 88 women, with numerous others wounded. Of the injured, over 300 flooded into Nasser Hospital, where staff faced acute shortages of critical medical supplies such as antibiotics, compounded by previous damage from Israeli bombardments. The blockade of essential goods on March 2 had already deteriorated conditions in the region.
In the chaos unfolding inside the hospital’s emergency ward, volunteers with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, including Sakib Rokadiya and American pediatrician Tanya Haj-Hassan, recounted scenes of devastation. Patients from missile-struck homes and ablaze tent camps overwhelmed the facility. Amongst the injured was a boy with life-threatening shrapnel in his heart, a young man with a grievously injured arm, and countless children carried in by distraught relatives or strangers, their identities unknown.
The urgency of triaging patients was a monumental task. Some injuries were deceptively severe, like a little girl appearing unhurt until her severe internal bleeding was detected. Medical teams worked frantically, dispatching multiple patients simultaneously to surgery when possible.
Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon from California volunteering with MedGlobal, described the stark reality faced by the hospital staff. Many severely injured could not be saved due to limited capabilities in the intensive care unit, which was lacking robust antibiotics and necessary equipment. The American doctor, alongside Palestinian and Irish colleagues, performed numerous operations, yet many patients succumbed to their injuries due to insufficient postoperative care.
Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, leading the pediatric and obstetrics department, highlighted these resource shortages as a critical factor in the high death toll. Recalling a parallel to the Boston Marathon bombing, Sidhwa noted that even Boston’s resources would struggle to manage the catastrophic inflow of cases besieging Nasser Hospital.
Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the hospital staff remained resilient, supporting each other under extreme stress while grappling with personal losses due to the strikes. For instance, surgeon Khaled Alserr faced the anguish of identifying his family members among the deceased.
Throughout the period following the assault, the violent strikes persisted, claiming more lives, including significant figures from Hamas. The Israeli government continues to assert its position against Hamas, demanding further hostage releases while dismissing indirect engagements for a long-term resolution. Nevertheless, it attributes civilian casualties to Hamas operating within dense populations.
Amidst these tragic circumstances, the human cost remains profound. Haj-Hassan continues her rounds at the hospital, haunted by the images of injured children, including a girl left paralyzed by shrapnel and her stricken mother, struggling with their shared loss. The magnitude of violence and bloodshed leaves her wrestling with the grim reality unfolding before her.
This dire situation raises significant questions about the ongoing geopolitical dynamics and the humanitarian toll of the conflict, prompting reflection on the urgent need for effective resolutions.
