4.7 million of America’s population are doctors and nurses. The stress from that is already enough causing healthcare support workers to die of suicide at a of rate 21 per 100,000 compared to a non-healthcare workerse suicide rate of 12 per 100,000 in America.
This is due to the velocity of trauma they undergo when seeing and caring for patients. This is even more severe in Gaza right now leaving medical professionals restless and distraught imagining the death-ridden screams of their patients. The Israeli Defense Force(IDF) did not have mercy on their last trip to erase Palestine, after storming and sieging to fail at finding any Hamas members or hostages.
On Feb 15, 2024 Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis was attacked by the IDF. It held 300 medical staff, 450 patients and sheltered over 10,000 other people. The hospital was already partially functional with limited medical supplies and electricity to operate with, but they also lacked food and water. Soldiers handcuffed the majority if not all medical personnel preventing them from continuing treatment leaving open wounds untreated and procedures unfinished.
10-year-old Hala Keddad was in intensive care where she was promised safety and care. The electricity and oxygen were cut off ending her short life soon after. That’s one of the many displaced, dead, and mourning in Rafah after the siege. Many children and infants were left severely wounded without treatment leaving at least five civilians dead. Regardless of this, Israel claims to have caused “no civilian casualties” and “the hospital remains functional.” This is all while the hospital is still at partial capacity with no electricity and little equipment for procedures.
Israel claims that there were the bodies of dead hostages held there. Although by this point in the murders, the hostages would likely have already been bombed and buried until hospital rubble by the IDF. They also claim that members of Hamas were disguised as medical personnel and patients and sprinkled in with civilians seeking shelter. 100 “militants” were arrested with little to no proof or vague reason. “If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, to include the Rafah area.” A statement released on Feb. 18 from Benny Gantz, opposition leader and member of Israel’s war cabinet said. After promising civilians southern safety, the IDF has continued to relentlessly bomb, attack and starve Palestinian civilians all under the claim of Hamas hiding among innocent people.
At this point in time, it is unclear if any aid will be let into Khan Younis. World Health Organization released that they were unable and prevented from getting aid to Nasser Hospital or general Gaza. This could prevent any hostages getting back to their home. Food and water shortages are starving thousands everyday which leaves little food for everyone else including hostages. The bombings could’ve also impacted hostages, if the IDF was targeting Hamas then their bombings very well could have killed hostages as well. The IDF were claimed to have killed at least three hostages already.
Photos taken of the hospital have been described as gut wrenching and heart breaking events in several social media posts from the citizens and ground journalists, detailing their personal experiences. Many have taken to Instagram and TikTok to share their stories. Most posts include photos of people dead in Nasser hospital, the bloody children waiting to be treated, and paragraphs recapping their trauma during the raid on Feb. 15. Videos of smoke-filled rooms and screaming civilians were posted anywhere they would stay up, the caption being the testimonies of patients and displaced people.
