The director of a besieged hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, tragically lost his 21-year-old son, Ibrahim, to Israeli shelling on the facility. Ibrahim, who aspired to become a doctor, was volunteering at the Kamal Adwan Hospital to help treat the wounded due to a shortage of medical staff.
According to Dr. Abu Safiya, his son was killed at the hospital's entrance while checking if the Israeli army had withdrawn. The hospital has been under siege by the Israeli military, alleging the presence of 'terrorists' in the area. Dr. Abu Safiya was detained and interrogated by the Israel Defense Forces over treating unidentified wounded patients, which he denied.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Abu Safiya and his assistant are the last remaining doctors at the hospital. The dire situation has left them overwhelmed, with several patients in need of surgeries, particularly for amputations and burns. The doctor expressed his distress over the lack of a medical team to handle the critical cases.
Dr. Abu Safiya recounted an incident where he was physically assaulted and insulted by a soldier in front of the medical staff. He emphasized the hospital's commitment to providing care to all patients, regardless of their background, and refuted accusations of treating resistance fighters.
The loss of his son, who shared his passion for medicine, has deeply affected Dr. Abu Safiya and the hospital staff. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has exacerbated the already strained healthcare system, leaving medical professionals like Dr. Abu Safiya struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of casualties.
