Dr. Mahmoud Sabha, a North Texas physician, finds himself stranded in Gaza, along with at least 20 other American healthcare workers, after Israel seized control of the Rafah crossing, the only remaining access point in and out of the Gaza Strip via its border with Egypt.
Speaking from the European Hospital in Rafah, Gaza, Sabha expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation he’s witnessing firsthand. He described escalating suffering, with more people becoming homeless, children dying, and injuries worsening due to unsanitary conditions, often leading to infestations with maggots.
Sabha, who embarked on his second medical mission in Gaza on May 1, has been treating severe wounds, including burns and amputations. However, he faces immense challenges due to the lack of resources and the overwhelming scale of human suffering.
The closure of the Rafah crossing has left Sabha and his colleagues stranded, unable to leave Gaza despite their urgent need to return home. Sarah Mushtaq, Sabha’s sister-in-law, highlighted the emotional turmoil the family is enduring, especially concerning Sabha’s two young children, while advocating for his safe return.
Mushtaq and the family are actively engaging in advocacy efforts, urging elected officials to facilitate Sabha’s return and calling for the establishment of a safe humanitarian corridor. Their primary goal is to secure a permanent ceasefire to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Sabha emphasized the urgent need for international empathy and action, stressing that every Palestinian life is invaluable and deserving of dignity and respect. He expressed deep concern for the safety of the European Hospital, fearing it could suffer the same fate as Al-Shifa, which was subjected to a devastating raid by the Israeli military.
In the midst of uncertainty and peril, Sabha remains more worried about the well-being of his patients than his own predicament, underscoring the selflessness and dedication of healthcare workers in crisis zones like Gaza.
