Volunteer doctors in Gaza share their fears, pain and a little hope

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In the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza’s Khan Younis, a volunteer doctor breaks down as he speaks of what he has seen during his mission amid Israel’s unabated bombardment, reports Al Jazeera.

It is impossible to get over the scenes of starving, shocked, and injured children, thoracic surgeon Ehab Massad says. “[However], the helpless feeling of being outside Gaza and watching the news is gone now; at least I feel like I’m doing my part.”

It’s a feeling echoed by the three other doctors to whom Al Jazeera spoke. Orthopaedic surgeon Anas Hijjawi described a long line of doctors who had signed up for medical missions to Gaza, some of whom had to wait up to five months for a spot to open up.

Dr Diyaa Rachdan, an ophthalmic surgeon, struggles to keep his voice steady as he tells Al Jazeera that Tuesday was the last day of the mission and the doctors would be heading back to their respective hospitals the next day.

Dr Rachdan is holding fast to one memory of Gaza’s children that he seems to want to preserve as he gets ready to leave:

“They make paper aeroplanes, play ball, despite the tragedy they are surrounded by. I will always remember that.”

Read more here.

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