Medics describe horrific conditions, mass casualties, and desperate struggle for survival amid Gaza war
Doctors at al-Shifa hospital, once the largest medical complex in the Gaza Strip, say they are overwhelmed with casualties from relentless Israeli strikes. With supplies nearly gone and no safe corridors, medical staff are carrying out operations in filthy conditions, often with little or no anaesthetic.
One Australian medic told the BBC that “every day is a mass casualty event.” Another described how doctors managed to save a baby from the womb of a pregnant woman who had been killed in the bombardment. “It’s just a mass murder, a killing, a torture, a nightmare,” said Dr. Nada Abu Alrub, an emergency specialist volunteering at the hospital.
Operations Without Pain Relief
Inside al-Shifa, doctors are forced to perform amputations and emergency surgeries with minimal to no painkillers. “Brain matter out. Organs are out. It’s horrific,” Dr. Abu Alrub explained.
Another Australian anaesthetist, Dr. Saya Aziz, described a six-year-old boy who waited three days for an operation because the hospital’s only orthopaedic surgeon was overwhelmed. “Every couple of hours there are multiple amputations. It’s life or limb, literally,” she said.
Tanks Closing In
Israeli forces are now less than 500 meters from al-Shifa, as tanks advance into the city from multiple directions. Witnesses reported heavy strikes from aircraft, artillery, drones, and remotely driven explosives, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes daily.
Some families described harrowing escapes. “My wife and son were trapped as tanks surrounded our area. They lived through the hardest night of their lives before escaping through a back door,” said Palestinian journalist Fathi Sabah.
A City Under Siege
Before the offensive, about one million Palestinians lived in Gaza City. The UN estimates more than 320,000 have fled south since Israel announced its plan to take the city, while Israel claims the figure is double that. Many are heading to the designated “humanitarian area” in al-Mawasi, though overcrowding, unsafe camps, and impossible costs—sometimes over $3,000 per family—make escape nearly unreachable for many.
Meanwhile, other hospitals across Gaza are being forced to shut down under bombardment. Al-Rantisi children’s hospital, St John Eye hospital, and a Jordanian field hospital have all closed or relocated. The Palestinian Medical Relief Society’s health centre was destroyed in an air strike, according to the World Health Organization.
A War With No End in Sight
The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 65,382 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks.
For doctors still working inside Gaza City, survival itself has become the greatest challenge. “There’s blood over the beds. There’s no equipment. No replacements,” Dr. Aziz said. “You can see the sorrow and the sadness of the healthcare workers.”