Title: UK medics express deep concern as they pull out of Gaza hospital
Doctors from the UK, part of the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), have pulled out from al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip. The medics have expressed their “deep concern” for patients and staff remaining at the hospital, as the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas intensifies in the nearby areas.
Deborah Harrington, an obstetrician working at the hospital with MAP, stated that there has been a decrease in the number of staff able to work at the facility while there are still 600 to 700 patients being treated daily. The hospital is also sheltering hundreds of displaced people.
Another member of the team, surgeon Nick Maynard, emphasized his concerns, saying it would be an “unmitigated disaster” for those in the Middle Gaza area without sufficient healthcare staff at the hospital.
Despite being specifically protected under international humanitarian law, the hospital has reportedly been affected by increasing Israeli military activity in the vicinity. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other aid organizations have expressed concerns about the situation.
The doctors from the UK have described treating large numbers of patients with serious injuries under challenging conditions. They have also reported incidents of violence around the hospital, including an attack on the intensive care unit, causing the UK medics to be evacuated from Gaza. The exact details of these incidents have not been verified.
Israel says its military operations in Gaza aim to “eradicate” Hamas and rescue hostages taken by the group, while it tries to avoid harm to civilians and blames Hamas for embedding fighters among them.
There have been catastrophic consequences reported, with numerous casualties and thousands of civilians being affected and displaced. The situation has led to deep concern and worry among the medics and humanitarian organizations working in the area.