NEW YORK, (PIC)
American doctor of Pakistani origin, Talal Ali Khan, who worked in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war of extermination, stated that his outlook on life was transformed by the horrors he witnessed in the Strip. He noted that life’s worries and pressures no longer carry any weight for him after seeing the tragedies faced by Palestinians.
Dr. Ali Khan, a nephrology consultant and member of the medical emergency team of the Palestinian American Medical Association, serves as an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma. He treated Palestinian patients in Gaza hospitals between July 16 and August 7.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Khan explained that he “went to Gaza under the umbrella of the United Nations to provide medical services to Palestinian patients living in extremely dire conditions.”
He added, “Doctors and healthcare workers in Gaza face immense risks amid indiscriminate Israeli attacks.”
Khan continued, “Gaza is a place where healthcare workers are deliberately targeted, and many have been attacked by Israeli forces multiple times.”
He noted that “even though doctors travel to Gaza under the UN’s umbrella, they face great danger throughout their stay in the region, with bombs falling everywhere unpredictably.”
Khan highlighted that “Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza was destroyed, and the dialysis units were burned during the Israeli attacks. These units supported approximately 450 patients before the war.”
On Tuesday, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that the Israeli army has executed 1,000 doctors and nurses in the enclave since the onset of the genocide, and destroyed dozens of hospitals.
A changed perspective on life
Khan emphasized that, for him, “Gaza symbolizes resilience and determination, and its Palestinian residents are far more remarkable than he could have imagined.”
He revealed that “his perspective on life changed after returning from Gaza,” explaining that “life’s challenges and worries no longer hold any significance after witnessing the disasters and hardships faced by Gaza’s residents.”
Khan recounted an emotional moment when a patient expressed gratitude by offering him a cup of tea, despite having little to give. He added, “These people have nothing, yet their hearts are so generous.”
Schools and mosques are key targets
Khan pointed out that the Israeli army “deliberately targets schools, mosques, and libraries in a brutal manner.” He remarked, “The destruction I witnessed in Gaza is unparalleled anywhere else.”
He shared that during his time in Gaza, he observed the Israeli army targeting schools about 16 times in August alone, resulting in massacres, as displaced people sought refuge in them.
“I didn’t see a single mosque left intact in Gaza,” he elaborated.
Regarding the resilience of Palestinians amidst the war, Khan said: “I saw children in tents attending makeshift schools where women were teaching the Quran and providing basic education to students.”
He added, “It was profoundly inspiring to see these people remain steadfast and determined to move forward and continue living.”
Health system in tatters
The genocide in Gaza has caused the healthcare system to collapse, with civil defense services and Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances ceasing operations.
Since October 7, 2023, with U.S. support, Israel has perpetrated a genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 148,000 Palestinian casualties, most of whom are women and children. More than 10,000 individuals remain missing amid widespread destruction and famine, which has claimed the lives of countless children and elderly people, marking one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
Israel continues its massacres, disregarding the UN Security Council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire and the International Court of Justice’s orders to prevent acts of genocide and improve Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
