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Arab News
22-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
British doctors working in Gaza describe territory as a ‘slaughterhouse'
LONDON: British doctors working in Gaza have described the territory as a 'slaughterhouse,' where the patients they are treating are severely malnourished. Plastic surgeons and orthopedic specialists from the UK are based at the Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis in the south of the territory. Dr. Tom Potokar, a plastic surgeon specializing in burn injuries, has worked in Gaza 16 times but said this mission had revealed a level of destruction far greater than his last visit in 2023, Sky News reported. 'What can you say, it's horrific, it's a slaughterhouse,' Potokar said after operating on a badly injured Palestinian woman whose husband and children were killed in an Israeli attack. He urged world leaders to 'stop talking and do something.' Potokar moved to Amal hospital last week after the nearby European hospital where he had been working was hit by Israeli missiles and forced to close. Gaza's health care is in a state of collapse, with hospitals being repeatedly targeted by Israel since the war started in October 2023. The relentless airstrikes and bombings have killed more than 53,000 people and hospitals are full of Palestinians with blast-related injuries. A blockade of humanitarian aid since March has further strained hospitals, leaving doctors with limited supplies to treat the injured. 'The difference this time I think is the intensity,' Potokar said. 'Back in October to December 2023 was the last time I was here, there was a lot of wounded and it was very intense as well. 'I think the difference this time is, because of the blockade there's so little stuff getting in, there's no food getting in so people are starving. There's very little medical supplies coming in but also the other very noticeable thing is the massive extent of destruction. I mean, Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad.' The report showed the chaos of the hospital's emergency rooms, with badly injured children being brought in for initial treatment before being sent for surgery with the British medics. Most of the injuries are blast wounds and the patients are malnourished. In Nasser hospital, a baby arrived with chest and back burns, while another lay silent having suffered shrapnel wounds and was unable to see from one eye. Dr. Victoria Rose, a British plastic surgeon working at the hospital, showed the inside of the burns unit, which was shut down after being hit by Israeli missiles. Israel this week ordered residents to evacuate Khan Younis, leading to several of the hospital's staff being unable to get to work, Rose said. 'My anesthetic nurse and Graeme's orthopedic colleague had to leave us mid-case to go and evacuate their families to an area of safety,' she said. Dr. Graeme Groom, a surgeon working alongside Rose, praised his Palestinian colleagues. 'These are people just like you and me, they have their homes, their families, they live normal lives. Many are very impressive people and without notice they have to pick up a grab bag and leave, look for food, look for water, look for shelter, but turn up at work each day,' he said. The surgeons fear that the hospitals may have to be evacuated as Israel expands its military operation in the area as part of a plan to take complete control of the territory.
Sky News
21-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Gaza live: Israeli politician says his own country's forces are 'killing babies as a hobby'
By Alistair Bunkall, Middle East correspondent A British doctor working in Gaza has urged world leaders to "stop talking and do something" as he described how people are starving and the "massive extent of destruction". Dr Tom Potokar, who has compared Gaza to a "slaugherhouse" because of the bombardment by Israeli forces, is part of a group of British specialist doctors and surgeons working in Khan Younis. Sky News spent two days filming with them in Nasser and Amal hospitals, two of the last functioning hospitals in southern Gaza. They are plastic surgeons and orthopaedic specialists. The operating theatres are a rare zone of calm as the medics work with the war outside and a constant stream of wounded needing urgent treatment. All the patients are malnourished. Children are suffering the worst. The lack of food and water has made them weak and more vulnerable to their injuries. Hospitals in Gaza have repeatedly come under attack during the war. The Israel Defense Forces claims Hamas has been hiding in them or in tunnels underneath. Nasser hospital hasn't escaped. The burns unit was one of the busiest parts of the hospital, until it was destroyed in an airstrike. The doctors sleep and spend downtime in small living quarters within the hospital itself. Food is one ready meal a day, only 400 calories. The 11-week blockade is affecting everyone.
Sky News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
'Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad': British doctor in Gaza describes horror - and has message for world leaders
A British doctor working in Gaza has urged world leaders to "stop talking and do something" as he described how people are starving and the "massive extent of destruction". Dr Tom Potokar - who has compared Gaza to a "slaugherhouse" because of the bombardment by Israeli forces - is part of a group of British specialist doctors and surgeons currently working in Khan Younis. Sky News spent two days filming with them in Nasser and Amal hospitals - two of the last functioning hospitals in southern Gaza. They are plastic surgeons and orthopaedic specialists. The operating theatres are a rare zone of calm as the medics work with the war outside and a constant stream of wounded needing urgent treatment. All the patients are malnourished. Children are suffering the worst. The lack of food and water has made them weak and more vulnerable to their injuries. Hospitals in Gaza have repeatedly come under attack during the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims Hamas has been hiding in them or in tunnels underneath. Nasser hospital hasn't escaped. The burns unit was one of the busiest parts of the hospital, until it was destroyed in an airstrike. The doctors sleep and spend downtime in small living quarters within the hospital itself. Food is one ready meal a day, only 400 calories. The 11-week blockade is affecting everyone. Dr Potokar was working in the European hospital on the western edge of Khan Younis but had to evacuate last week when it came under missile fire and had to close. He went to Amal hospital next to Nasser and is working again. He says he's seen a dramatic change since he was last in Gaza shortly after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. 0:56 "The difference this time I think is the intensity," he says. "Back in October to December '23 was the last time I was here, there was a lot of wounded, and it was very intense as well. "I think the difference this time is because of the blockade there's so little stuff getting in, there's no food getting in so people are starving, there's very little medical supplies coming in but also the other very noticeable thing is the massive extent of destruction - I mean Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad." 1:05 Speaking about what he has witnessed in Gaza, Dr Potokar added: "What can you say, it's horrific, it's a slaughterhouse. That's what it is, it's a slaughterhouse." He also urged world leaders to "stop talking and do something". The United Nations says 100 aid trucks were cleared for entry into Gaza on Tuesday, but Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat who now heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if they don't receive urgent aid. On Monday evening, the IDF-declared combat zone was only a few streets from the Nasser hospital. Drones flew low overhead through the day. 2:58 "An evacuation order for most of Khan Younis went out today, which meant we lost several members of the team," said Dr Victoria Rose, a plastic surgeon. "My anaesthetic nurse and Graeme's orthopaedic colleague had to leave us mid-case to go and evacuate their families to an area of safety." Dr Graeme Groom added: "These are people just like you and me, they have their homes, their families, they live normal lives, many are very impressive people and without notice they have to pick up a grab bag and leave… look for food, look for water, look for shelter, but turn up at work each day." With the Israeli military operation getting closer, the doctors are also prepared to evacuate at short notice. Essential supplies have been gathered and packed ready in a storeroom. But Nasser hospital has the last remaining ICU department in the whole of southern Gaza - one of only two with a working oxygen supply. If it must be evacuated, then the remaining temporary field hospitals would likely be overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Sky News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
British doctor in Gaza describes horror as people starve - and tells world leaders to 'do something'
Why you can trust Sky News A British doctor working in Gaza has urged world leaders to "stop talking and do something" as he described how people are starving and the "massive extent of destruction". Dr Tom Potokar - who has compared Gaza to a "slaugherhouse" because of the bombardment by Israeli forces - is part of a group of British specialist doctors and surgeons currently working in Khan Younis. Sky News spent two days filming with them in Nasser and Amal hospitals - two of the last functioning hospitals in southern Gaza. They are plastic surgeons and orthopaedic specialists. The operating theatres are a rare zone of calm as the medics work with the war outside, with a constant stream of wounded needing urgent treatment. All the patients are malnourished. Children are suffering the worst. The lack of food and water has made them weak and more vulnerable to their injuries. Hospitals in Gaza have repeatedly come under attack during the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims Hamas has been hiding in them or in tunnels underneath. Nasser hospital hasn't escaped. The burns unit was one of the busiest parts of the hospital, until it was destroyed in an airstrike. The doctors sleep and spend downtime in small living quarters within the hospital itself. Food is one ready meal a day, only 400 calories. The 11-week blockade is affecting everyone. Dr Potokar was working in the European hospital on the western edge of Khan Younis but had to evacuate last week when it came under missile fire and had to close. He went to Amal hospital next to Nasser and is working again. He says he's seen a dramatic change since he was last in Gaza shortly after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. 0:56 "The difference this time I think is the intensity," he says. "Back in October to December '23 was the last time I was here, there was a lot of wounded, and it was very intense as well. "I think the difference this time is because of the blockade there's so little stuff getting in, there's no food getting in so people are starving, there's very little medical supplies coming in but also the other very noticeable thing is the massive extent of destruction - I mean Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad." 1:05 Speaking about what he has witnessed in Gaza, Dr Potokar added: "What can you say, it's horrific, it's a slaughterhouse. That's what it is, it's a slaughterhouse." He also urged world leaders to "stop talking and do something". The United Nations says 100 aid trucks were cleared for entry into Gaza on Tuesday, but Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat who now heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if they don't receive urgent aid. On Monday evening, the IDF-declared combat zone was only a few streets from the Nasser hospital. Drones flew low overhead through the day. 2:58 "An evacuation order for most of Khan Younis went out today, which meant we lost several members of the team," said Dr Victoria Rose, a plastic surgeon. "My anaesthetic nurse and Graeme's orthopaedic colleague had to leave us mid-case to go and evacuate their families to an area of safety." Dr Graeme Groom added: "These are people just like you and me, they have their homes, their families, they live normal lives, many are very impressive people and without notice they have to pick up a grab bag and leave… look for food, look for water, look for shelter, but turn up at work each day." With the Israeli military operation getting closer, the doctors are also prepared to evacuate at short notice. Essential supplies have been gathered and packed ready in a storeroom. But Nasser hospital has the last remaining ICU department in the whole of southern Gaza - one of only two with a working oxygen supply. If it must be evacuated, then the remaining temporary field hospitals would likely be overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Gaza a ‘slaughterhouse,' says British surgeon
LONDON: A British surgeon working in southern Gaza has described treating severe explosive injuries and compared the Palestinian enclave to a 'slaughterhouse' amid escalating Israeli attacks. Overnight, at least 130 people were reported killed as Israeli forces launched extensive ground operations in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, forcing the closure of some of its main medical facilities. Dr. Tom Potokar said in a video that medical staff were treating severe explosive injuries in southern Gaza. A post shared by Alex Crawford (@ 'It's difficult to describe in words what's happening here (with the) constant sound of bombardment, jets overhead,' he added. Following the Hamas attack in October 2023 that killed nearly 1,200 people, Israeli forces launched an air, ground and sea campaign on Gaza, killing over 52,000 Palestinians and displacing and injuring hundreds of thousands. Potokar said he treated a young woman who 'is not yet aware that everyone in (her) family was killed in the onslaught.' He added: 'Another day of devastation here in Gaza ... The stories coming from the north ... absolutely horrific ... particularly around the Indonesian Hospital.' The hospital, one of the largest partially functioning medical facilities in Beit Lahia, has ceased operations due to Israeli bombing. In the south, the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis announced that it was out of service last week, while the Kuwait Specialized Hospital in Rafah said it can no longer operate its surgical department amid the Israeli attacks. Since March, Israel has enforced a blockade on aid, prompting a warning from UN food experts about the imminent risk of mass starvation in Gaza.
