Imagine returning home after nearly two years of confinement, only to find the world you knew utterly destroyed. This is the reality Dr. Ahmed Muhanna faced upon his release from Israeli prisons and detention centers after 665 agonizing days. His story is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit.
During his 22 months of imprisonment, Dr. Muhanna clung to the dream of returning to his family and his home in Gaza. But when he finally crossed the border, the devastation he witnessed was almost unbearable. The hospital he once knew, the al-Awda, was decimated, the landscape of his memories erased.
Dr. Muhanna, a senior anaesthesiologist and emergency care consultant, was detained by Israeli forces in December 2023, a time when the al-Awda hospital was already under siege. Now, despite a supposed ceasefire, he and his colleagues are fighting a new battle against disease and preventable deaths, as the healthcare system struggles to function.
And this is the part most people miss... Dr. Muhanna returned to a hospital stripped of staff, equipment, and essential medicines. He learned that 75 of his colleagues at al-Awda had been killed during his detention. Shockingly, since October 7, 2023, a staggering 1,200 Palestinian healthcare workers have been killed, and 384 detained by the Israeli military, according to the NGO Healthcare Workers Watch.
The situation is dire. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 77% of the population, including 100,000 children, face severe food insecurity. Dr. Muhanna and his team are constantly treating severely malnourished children who develop complex medical issues.
But here's where it gets controversial... International human rights organizations, including a UN commission, have concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, often citing the blocking of humanitarian aid and the systematic destruction of the healthcare system. The deliberate targeting of the healthcare system has not only destroyed infrastructure but also deprived people of medical care, leading to increased mortality rates.
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reports that 94% of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, leaving patients, including newborns, without essential care. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has prevented the entry of vital medical supplies, leading to preventable deaths.
The situation is worsening further, as Israel plans to revoke the licenses of 37 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) working in Gaza, including medical aid organizations like Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF).
“Today, there is not a single, functional MRI machine in Gaza. There is only one CT scanner,” says Muhanna, making it difficult for doctors to make informed decisions in life-threatening cases. Cancer patients suffer as tumors spread, and there's a rise in kidney failures due to the lack of dialysis machines.
Dr. Muhanna's words paint a bleak picture: “I am a doctor but I am helpless and unable to do anything to help people.” Yet, his commitment to his patients remains unwavering.
Having begun work immediately after his release, Dr. Muhanna has not had time to process the trauma of his experiences. He endured torture, humiliation, and denial of basic needs. A UN report concluded that Israel has a “de facto state policy” of organized torture.
He was first taken to the notorious Sde Teiman detention center, where he was blindfolded and bound for 24 days. During his transfer, he was severely beaten, resulting in a broken rib. He was denied medical care. He witnessed the deaths of two men due to lack of treatment, including a 37-year-old man who suffered from gastrointestinal obstruction.
Dr. Muhanna recalls the lack of food and the inhumane conditions, including being confined with 40 other detainees in a small tent without bathroom access for hours. He was never charged with a crime.
Upon his release, the reunion with his mother was a moment of pure joy. Seeing his wife and children again was like life returning to him. But as he recovers from the trauma and faces the overwhelming medical crisis in Gaza, he feels little hope for the future.
He dreams of a safe future for his children, but the reality is harsh: “There is nowhere to go. No green spaces. Gaza used to have life; restaurants, beaches. Now there is nothing left.”
What are your thoughts on the challenges faced by healthcare workers in conflict zones? Do you think the international community is doing enough to support them? Share your opinions in the comments below.
