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In the early hours of March 18, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa was abruptly awakened by the sound of his living quarters’ door slamming violently against the closet behind it. This moment marked a significant escalation in the situation in Gaza, as Israel had recommenced its bombing campaign, effectively terminating the ceasefire that had been in place.
Dr. Sidhwa, a 43-year-old trauma surgeon from California, was on his second volunteer mission at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. He had arrived in Gaza on March 6, a time when the conflict had momentarily quieted.
However, the silence was soon shattered by the familiar sounds of war, thrusting him once again into a crisis involving mass casualties.
Reflecting on that fateful morning during a video call, Sidhwa remarked, “Things changed pretty dramatically. I anticipated the attacks would resume while I was here, so it was not entirely unexpected.”
The ceasefire had been established on January 19 as a phased agreement that included conditions related to hostage and prisoner releases, while discussions about Gaza’s future were deferred to a later stage.
WATCH | Israel resumes airstrikes, ground attacks:
Israel resumes airstrikes, launches renewed ground operation in Gaza
As the ceasefire crumbled, Israel initiated renewed airstrikes and ground operations, prompting a response from Hamas in the form of rocket fire towards Tel Aviv. The initial phase, which was primarily aimed at the release of hostages, had come to a close by March 1 without further agreements on subsequent measures.
The violence resumed on March 18, leading to nearly 600 fatalities, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, and leaving the ceasefire in tatters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the military action as “just the beginning,” indicating a ground invasion aimed at pressuring Hamas for the release of remaining hostages.
Upon being roused, Sidhwa and his medical team reached the emergency room within fifteen minutes and were attending to patients shortly thereafter, with Sidhwa performing his first surgery just an hour into his day.
Shrapnel Injuries
One of the first tragic cases he encountered involved a three-year-old girl suffering from devastating shrapnel wounds to her face and head. Despite being technically alive, her condition was dire. “She had agonal breathing and a weak pulse. It was clear she would not survive,” Sidhwa recounted.
That day, the Nasser Medical Complex received an influx of casualties, with 250 to 300 patients, of whom 40 to 50 percent were women and children.
The injuries he treated were primarily caused by small but powerful shrapnel that penetrated various body parts, leading to critical injuries to vital organs like the heart, lungs, abdomen, and brain.
During the initial surge of casualties, Sidhwa participated in six surgical procedures on Tuesday alone, including those on three children, two women, and one middle-aged man. The violent barrage of bombing persisted for three to five hours while he worked.
Hundreds of Deaths, Injuries
In a statement to CBC News, Doctors Without Borders indicated that their medical teams were responding to a significant increase in patients in both southern and central Gaza on that day. At the Nasser Medical Complex, there were 55 fatalities and 113 injuries. Additional hospitals, like the Al Aqsa Hospital, reported similar influxes of casualties.
As the day progressed and the emergency room became somewhat stabilized, surgical operations were temporarily halted to manage the situation better.
Doctors Without Borders emphasized that the Gaza population, already suffering, cannot endure the resumption of such violence and called for a sustainable ceasefire while urging for the facilitation of humanitarian aid and essential supplies.
Tom Fletcher, a senior United Nations official, conveyed the organization’s deep concerns to the UN Security Council, stating that the worst fears had been realized with the start of renewed hostilities, which instilled widespread fear among the local population.
Uneasy About Safety
The current conflict reignited after a Hamas-led offensive on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of about 250 individuals. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has led to the reported deaths of more than 49,000 Palestinians, with thousands more believed to be trapped under rubble.
While the earlier ceasefire allowed for a brief period of relief, the aftermath of the war left its mark on both the hospital and the surrounding community. Sidhwa, who has spent most of his time attending to patients, noted he has not ventured outside since the resurgence of violence due to safety concerns.
Prior to the attacks, he observed the devastation in Khan Younis, describing the grim realities: “Every building is damaged in some way; some are completely collapsed, and others have parts sheared off.” He articulated his feelings of uneasiness regarding safety while volunteering as a physician in such a volatile environment: “It’s hard to pretend [the explosions] don’t frighten you. However, if one desires to work in the Gaza Strip, one must acknowledge that one’s life is at risk at any moment.”
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