Stories from the war in Gaza: Working at Al Ahli Hospital
DR MAHER’S STORY
For the staff of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, the last year has been one of trauma and exhaustion. Al Ahli Hospital has treated thousands of innocent casualties of war – often without enough surgical equipment, medication, electricity or even food.
At times, the violence has invaded the hospital compound itself. On 17 October 2023 there was a devastating missile explosion in the hospital carpark, where displaced families were sheltering, and in December 2023 the hospital was raided by the IDF. Many of the staff were detained and subjected to interrogation before being released. In recent weeks the hospital has once again become a main responder to the escalating violence in the north of Gaza.
Despite all this, and the traumatic impact the war has had on their own lives, the staff have remained dedicated to serving others, as the words of Dr Maher, Medical Director of the hospital, show:
I began my journey at the Baptist hospital (Ahli Arab Hospital) in Gaza as a surgeon and eventually took on the role of Medical Director. Throughout my tenure, I dedicated myself to saving the lives of thousands of patients who were severely sick and injured during the numerous conflicts and wars that have plagued Gaza.
Since the onset of the current war in October 2023, my home and entire neighborhood have been substantially and severely damaged. This damage forced me and my wife to evacuate leaving all our belongings including furniture, cloths, and my car buried under the rubble.
The damage to Dr Maher’s home.
We sought refuge at the Catholic Church of Gaza, sharing a room with eight other people. We sleep on thin mattresses, use unhygienic shared toilets, and receive limited food and water, leading to a significant weight loss of over 10 kilograms.
Each day brings new hardships, including the spread of diarrhea and Hepatitis, compounded by extreme fear and mental health issues that will likely persist for years. The situation worsened with the loss of my elder sister and brother, who suffered from fracture neck femur. Their deaths could have been prevented with the necessary medical care and surgery avoiding complications leading to death.
A few days after the start of the war, our hospital was bombed, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries as well as partial damages to the hospital’s building. Despite losing many well-trained doctors and staff who have fled to southern Gaza, the hospital continues to operate, taking care of hundreds of causalities daily. I am continuing to support the operations of the hospital by providing medical assistance and advice to continue the healing mission of our hospital.
Believing that wars only bring disaster, loss, and prolonged suffering. This current war in Gaza has reinforced my belief that the consequences of war are not only painful but catastrophic. I pray to our Lord to grant wisdom for the leaders to work for an immediate cease fire, provide emergency relief, and work towards a just and lasting peace to build a prosperous future for all.
