Palestinian doctor relives two-week hospital siege at hands of Israel’s military

Since the war began, Dr Ahmed Abu Mustafa has witnessed more suffering than at any other point in his career. His workplace – Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis – has been subjected to relentless Israeli strikes and street-level fighting.

Dr Abu Mustafa, 26, spoke to The National after fleeing the hospital, which had been under siege by Israeli troops for more than two weeks.

In his final days inside the complex, he and 1,500 other people had to drink salty water to survive, with fresh water, food and medical supplies in very short supply.

There were only three other doctors on the emergency ward, Dr Abu Mustafa said, and they had to help their colleagues in the surgical units and orthopaedics department.

Across the entire hospital, just a few doctors were on hand to treat more than 1,000 patients.

At one point, Dr Abu Mustafa said, an Israeli drone hit the building.

“One day, while in the surgical department, I suddenly heard the sound of an Israeli quadcopter hovering near the window,” he said. “It started firing into the room.” Dr Abu Mustafa took cover, but one of his colleagues was hit. “He was injured in the head, but we promptly treated him,” he said.

The people in the complex had to take extra steps to minimise the danger.

“We moved to the orthopaedics department, but an Israeli tank had targeted the department, resulting in one patient being killed and other doctors and nurses getting injured,” Dr Abu Mustafa said.

During the siege, Gaza’s Health Ministry said the hospital’s drainage systems were destroyed, causing sewage to flood the premises.

When Israeli troops ordered the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from the complex, Dr Abu Mustafa worried about what would happen next.

“We didn’t understand their intentions – whether they intended to destroy the hospital over our heads or arrest and torture us.” He fled from the medical centre that night. On his way out, he passed an Israeli checkpoint, where one of his colleagues, Ayman Kulab, was under arrest.

“Israeli forces instructed him to undress while dogs surrounded him. The soldiers laughed during this humiliating incident,” Dr Abu Mustafa said.

He made his way to Rafah, where 1.4 million Gazans – more than half of the enclave’s population – have sought refuge from the fighting.

“We headed towards the western Rafah road and sat down to take a rest for 30 minutes, because we had been awake for more than 48 hours.

“But the Israeli artillery targeted an area near us, so we immediately left and continued our journey. There were ongoing attacks along the road,” Dr Abu Mustafa said.

He walked until he was too tired to go on, then called for a car for him and his colleagues.

But just as he was starting to feel a sense of relief, Dr Abu Mustafa said, an Israeli drone attacked the vehicle.

“Our colleagues, Dr Israa and Dr Mohammed Abu Lahia, were injured, and we immediately rushed them to Kuwaiti Hospital,” he said.

Dr Abu Mustafa said he saw destruction everywhere past the Israeli checkpoint.

“Every house was destroyed, and the streets, too,” he said.

“Military barracks were everywhere. Military vehicles were everywhere. Schools, mosques, and shops were also destroyed. Snipers were in every neighbourhood.”

We didn’t understand … whether they intended to destroy the hospital over our heads, or arrest and torture us

DR AHMED ABU MUSTAFA Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis