UK surgeon in Gaza says ‘never seen so many blast injuries'
Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike at a local hospital in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip. (AP pic)
GAZA : A British surgeon visiting a Gaza hospital said Monday she had 'never seen so many blast injuries' as Israel ramps up operations in the coastal Palestinian territory ravaged by 20 months of war.
'I've never seen so many blast injuries in my life and I've never seen so many injuries in Gaza in my life,' said Victoria Rose, a part of a British medical delegation to Nasser Hospital in south Gaza's Khan Yunis.
Rose, who has previously visited Gaza to work, said she had seen a lot of severe burns, typical injuries for people who have been in an explosion.
'We're seeing these injuries in really small children as well', Rose said from Nasser Hospital's paediatric wing.
With Israel conducting dozens of air strikes every day in Gaza since restarting bombardments on March 18, humanitarians have said that nowhere is safe in Gaza.
The surgeon added that the large burns she had witnessed during her visit 'are very difficult to survive from even in the Western countries where there is no war, and we have functioning hospitals and all the medical supplies at our fingertips.'
'So, here, most of these burns are going to be unsurvivable.'
Rose said the other type of injuries from blasts occurred when 'whatever is around you gets whipped up in the explosion and ejected at very high force, and that then hits the civilians and it causes penetrating injuries'.
Often, the victims suffer partial or complete amputations in the bombings, Rose said, and because they are living in tents they turn up with large amounts of dirt in their wounds.
'Our first course of action is to try and clean the wounds, and then to try and cover them and salvage as much of the body part as we can.'
These challenges are compounded by the dwindling number of functional medical facilities in Gaza, Rose said, including Nasser Hospital.
'On the second floor, one of the wards has been blown up, and also on the fourth floor the burns unit was blown up'.
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said last week that '94% of the hospitals in Gaza are now damaged or destroyed, and half of them are no longer operational'.
Rescuers said Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 52 people on Monday, 33 of them in a school turned shelter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
UK threatens Israel with ‘further concrete actions' over Gaza offensive, aid restrictions
LONDON, June 6 — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday warned Israel of 'further concrete actions' over its Gaza offensive and restrictions on aid after a meeting in London with Jordan's King Abdullah II. 'The Prime Minister reiterated that if Israel did not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, the UK and its partners would take further concrete actions in response,' a spokesperson for his Downing Street office said in a statement. The two leaders discussed 'the gravity of the intolerable situation in Gaza' and 'concerning developments' in the West Bank. The statement added it was 'vital' a sustainable ceasefire be secured, as well as the release of all hostages, and called for humanitarian aid delivery 'at speed and volume'. Britain last month suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned its ambassador to the foreign ministry over Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of 'egregious actions and rhetoric' over its expansion of military operations in the Palestinian territory. During an impassioned speech to Britain's parliament, Lammy also said the UK government was imposing new sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in settlements in the West Bank. Lammy said Britain 'cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration' in Gaza and was pausing negotiations with Israel on a trade agreement. On Wednesday, the UK government called for an 'immediate and independent investigation' into a string of deadly incidents at aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip this week. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer said the deaths of Palestinians as they sought food were 'deeply disturbing' and called Israel's new measures for aid delivery 'inhumane'. — AFP
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Spain's Sonar Festival hit by artist boycott over parent firm KKR's Israel ties
MADRID, June 6 — Dozens of artists have pulled out of next week's Sonar electronic music festival in Spain, protesting financial ties between its parent company and real estate investments in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. In an open letter posted on social media, more than 60 artists — including Arca, Asia, DJ Paquita Gordon, and Shaun J. Wright — accused the private equity firm KKR of being 'fully complicit in the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza'. Sonar — which will be held in Barcelona this year June 12-14 — is one of around 80 global events operated by Superstruct Entertainment, which has been majority-owned by KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) since October 2024. The artists are urging the festival to sever ties with KKR and to adhere to the principles of the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to financially pressure Israel into ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories. BDS accuses KKR of complicity in 'Israel's genocide and colonial apartheid regime', citing the firm's stake in German media group Axel Springer. That group owns Israeli classifieds site Yad2, which BDS says features listings for real estate projects in occupied Palestinian territories. The Sonar festival said on its website that the 2024 acquisition of Superstruct shares by KKR and other investors was 'purely financial' and that Sonar had no say in the transaction. 'We categorically condemn the genocide of the Palestinian people,' the festival said in a statement, adding: 'At no time have we ever sent — nor will we ever send — a single euro to KKR.' Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun, a member of the far-left Sumar alliance, voiced concern last month over what he described as KKR's involvement in Spanish festivals and its business activities in 'illegally occupied' Palestinian territories. 'We do not want a fund that actively contributes to the illegal occupation of Palestine to have a role in our cultural life,' he told reporters. Contacted by AFP in New York, KKR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024 in a coordinated decision slammed by Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics in the European Union of Israel's military operations in Gaza. — AFP
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Anwar receives Aidiladha greetings from Iranian and Turkish leaders, reaffirms Malaysia's support for Palestine
KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. In a phone call with Masoud earlier today, Anwar said Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. 'I also conveyed that Malaysia's foreign policy is not dictated by external powers but is built on national interests and firm convictions. 'Malaysia condemns the hypocrisy of certain countries that claim to uphold human rights yet silently allow mass killings without any dignified action. Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of universal human values,' he said in a statement on Facebook. Anwar said Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the celebration on Saturday. Anwar prayed that hajj pilgrims from both nations currently in the holy city of Makkah would be granted a blessed hajj and contribute to the development of the 'Ummah' upon returning to their respective countries. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Masoud for his noble efforts in facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He said during the conversation, he conveyed appreciation to Masoud following the recent visits by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to Tehran, as part of joint efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He noted that the cooperation spans education, technology, food security, trade, investment and the oil and gas sector. 'In the same discussion, Malaysia welcomes the decision to resume Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, which will undoubtedly open more opportunities and avenues for economic ties and people-to-people connections,' he said. In a separate post, Anwar said he received a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this afternoon, during which they discussed, among other things, the suffering of the Palestinian people. 'We agreed that while the world chooses to remain silent and selective about the plight of Gaza's people, we cannot stand idly by. Malaysia wholeheartedly welcomes and fully supports President Erdogan's stance to utilise all available platforms and capabilities to defend the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people,' he said. Anwar said they also discussed Erdogan's recent official visit to Malaysia, which he described as the most successful and meaningful in the nation's diplomatic history, further strengthening the long-standing bilateral ties. He said the visit was not merely a ceremonial exchange but was underpinned by substantive discussions addressing shared interests. 'I view the visit as a manifestation of the alignment of values and the clear direction both nations share in upholding justice, sovereignty and the development of the global ummah,' he said. Anwar said Malaysia is committed to working closely with Turkiye, particularly in forming a strategic partnership capable of amplifying the voice of the ummah on the global stage. 'In the spirit of Aidiladha, embodying sacrifice, resilience and faith in divine guidance, Malaysia will continue to stand with Turkiye in fostering a more peaceful, just and humane world,' he said, noting that he also received Aidiladha greetings from Erdogan. — Bernama
