Latest news with #Potokar
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
British doctor in Gaza describes horror as people starve - and tells world leaders to 'do something'
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. Gaza latest: UK halts trade talks with Israel 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. "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." 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". Read more: 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. "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.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bombs in Gaza ‘shredding people to pieces'
A British surgeon working in hospitals caught in the middle of Israel's new Gaza offensive said air strikes were 'shredding people to pieces'. Tom Potokar, a plastic surgeon stationed in southern Gaza with the charity Ideals, told The Telegraph he was working in the Strip's European Hospital when it was hit by Israeli bombs. Israel has escalated its war in Gaza by launching a fresh offensive on the besieged Palestinian territory, which it announced on Sunday, triggering international outrage. Hundreds of people have been killed in recent days, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli tanks have rolled into the Strip, air strikes have intensified and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes by Israeli displacement orders. Speaking from the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, where he is now stationed, Dr Potokar said: 'You have to consider that the Gaza Strip is, geographically, a very small area and yet there are nearly two million people living here. 'So when you drop ordnance – with the amounts being used and the type of weapons being used in such a small, densely populated area – you are literally shredding people to pieces.' The 61-year-old surgeon, who previously worked as a consultant at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Swansea before becoming a voluntary independent humanitarian surgeon, said he had moved hospital three times in the past week amid ongoing Israeli bombardments. Recalling the massive air strike on the Gaza European Hospital, he said: 'It is difficult to imagine how human beings can treat other human beings in this way. 'To see children particularly with horrific injuries and amputations, to see pregnant women requiring major surgery – it's absolute brutality.' The Israeli air force said the target of the strike was an alleged Hamas command centre situated underneath the hospital, with defence sources claiming Mohammed Sinwar, the organisation's leader, may have been killed in the attack. But the strikes on Gaza's hospitals have drawn criticism from humanitarian organisations, with the UN Human Rights Office and Human Rights Watch warning the campaign is pushing the healthcare system in the enclave to the brink of collapse. Rights groups have also warned of famine, as aid continues to be blocked by Israel. Dr Potokar evacuated the European facility on Thursday morning and headed to Nasser Hospital, where he stayed for two days, before being transferred to the nearby Al-Amal Hospital, where there was no plastic surgeon onsite. The doctor says he was also caught up in an air strike near the Al-Amal facility, with the strength of the blast causing a piece of shrapnel to narrowly miss the entrance to the emergency department. 'It was around 6am and a massive strike happened about 400 metres from the hospital, with heavy machine gun fire and helicopters. 'Thankfully, there were no casualties in the hospital, but a huge piece of shrapnel landed in front of the emergency room.' Credit: Gaza European Hospital/Dr. Tom Potokar Israel announced the start of the latest ground offensive in a statement on Sunday, saying it had already struck 670 Hamas terror targets and eliminated 'dozens of terrorists'. On Monday, the army ordered the evacuation of Khan Younis, where Israel carried out a massive operation earlier in the war that left much of the area in ruins. It follows a more than two-month blockade on Gaza after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down amid accusations the organisation was stealing supplies. But Israel has faced growing international pressure in recent weeks, including from the US, to agree to a temporary armistice and allow aid into the region. In a rare US intervention, Donald Trump, the US president, warned that Gazans were 'starving' last week as a result of the humanitarian situation in the war-ravaged enclave. 'We are looking at Gaza, we're gonna get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. There's a lot of bad things going on,' the US president said on Friday as he concluded a tour of the Middle East that took in several Gulf countries but excluded Israel. Commenting on Mr Trump's visit to the Gulf, Dr Potokar said many in the enclave were hopeful that the president would intervene and were left bitterly disappointed after he signed a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. 'People were very optimistic of Trump's visit, everyone really thought that he might do something. But what did it do? It sold billions' worth of arms deals. It's not humanity; it's just money and power.' He continued: 'What is the West doing, what is the rest of the world doing – churning out press statement after press statement but nothing is changing. 'This will be a stain on humanity when people look back in years to come, when we say, 'How did we allow this to happen?' We've been here before and no lessons are being learnt. 'The killing goes on, the slaughter goes on and these are people like you and me.' Since the end of the ceasefire in March, at least 3,131 Palestinians have been killed and more than 8,600 injured, the Gaza ministry of health has said. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, signalled on Sunday that he was open to making a deal with Hamas, saying his negotiation team would 'exhaust every possibility' in an effort to end the fighting. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Bombs in Gaza ‘shredding people to pieces'
A British surgeon working in hospitals caught in the middle of Israel's new Gaza offensive said air strikes were 'shredding people to pieces'. Tom Potokar, a plastic surgeon stationed in southern Gaza with the charity Ideals, told The Telegraph he was working in the Strip's European Hospital when it was hit by Israeli bombs. Israel has escalated its war in Gaza by launching a fresh offensive on the besieged Palestinian territory, which it announced on Sunday, triggering international outrage. Hundreds of people have been killed in recent days, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli tanks have rolled into the Strip, air strikes have intensified and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes by Israeli displacement orders. Speaking from the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, where he is now stationed, Dr Potokar said: 'You have to consider that the Gaza Strip is, geographically, a very small area and yet there are nearly two million people living here. 'So when you drop ordnance – with the amounts being used and the type of weapons being used in such a small, densely populated area – you are literally shredding people to pieces.' The 61-year-old surgeon, who previously worked as a consultant at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Swansea before becoming a voluntary independent humanitarian surgeon, said he had moved hospital three times in the past week amid ongoing Israeli bombardments. Recalling the massive air strike on the Gaza European Hospital, he said: 'It is difficult to imagine how human beings can treat other human beings in this way. 'To see children particularly with horrific injuries and amputations, to see pregnant women requiring major surgery – it's absolute brutality.' The Israeli air force said the target of the strike was an alleged Hamas command centre situated underneath the hospital, with defence sources claiming Mohammed Sinwar, the organisation's leader, may have been killed in the attack. But the strikes on Gaza's hospitals have drawn criticism from humanitarian organisations, with the UN Human Rights Office and Human Rights Watch warning the campaign is pushing the healthcare system in the enclave to the brink of collapse. Rights groups have also warned of famine, as aid continues to be blocked by Israel. Dr Potokar evacuated the European facility on Thursday morning and headed to Nasser Hospital, where he stayed for two days, before being transferred to the nearby Al-Amal Hospital, where there was no plastic surgeon onsite. The doctor says he was also caught up in an air strike near the Al-Amal facility, with the strength of the blast causing a piece of shrapnel to narrowly miss the entrance to the emergency department. 'It was around 6am and a massive strike happened about 400 metres from the hospital, with heavy machine gun fire and helicopters. 'Thankfully, there were no casualties in the hospital, but a huge piece of shrapnel landed in front of the emergency room.' Israel announced the start of the latest ground offensive in a statement on Sunday, saying it had already struck 670 Hamas terror targets and eliminated 'dozens of terrorists'. On Monday, the army ordered the evacuation of Khan Younis, where Israel carried out a massive operation earlier in the war that left much of the area in ruins. It follows a more than two-month blockade on Gaza after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down amid accusations the organisation was stealing supplies. But Israel has faced growing international pressure in recent weeks, including from the US, to agree to a temporary armistice and allow aid into the region. In a rare US intervention, Donald Trump, the US president, warned that Gazans were 'starving' last week as a result of the humanitarian situation in the war-ravaged enclave. 'We are looking at Gaza, we're gonna get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. There's a lot of bad things going on,' the US president said on Friday as he concluded a tour of the Middle East that took in several Gulf countries but excluded Israel. Commenting on Mr Trump's visit to the Gulf, Dr Potokar said many in the enclave were hopeful that the president would intervene and were left bitterly disappointed after he signed a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. 'People were very optimistic of Trump's visit, everyone really thought that he might do something. But what did it do? It sold billions' worth of arms deals. It's not humanity; it's just money and power.' He continued: 'What is the West doing, what is the rest of the world doing – churning out press statement after press statement but nothing is changing. 'This will be a stain on humanity when people look back in years to come, when we say, 'How did we allow this to happen?' We've been here before and no lessons are being learnt. 'The killing goes on, the slaughter goes on and these are people like you and me.' Since the end of the ceasefire in March, at least 3,131 Palestinians have been killed and more than 8,600 injured, the Gaza ministry of health has said. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, signalled on Sunday that he was open to making a deal with Hamas, saying his negotiation team would ' exhaust every possibility ' in an effort to end the fighting.
RTÉ News
15-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Patients flee Gaza hospital after strikes, doctor says
A British plastic surgeon working at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, which was almost entirely evacuated this morning due to Israeli bombardment, has said there has been damage to the hospital's water and power supply. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Tomo Potokar said strikes on the facility on Tuesday evening "created quite a lot of damage" and caused many patients to leave out of fear. He said there were three more strikes yesterday and many patients were transferred to other hospitals. More than 130 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn yesterday, according to civil defence workers. "There was damage to the water supply, damage to the drainage, damage to some of the power supply, so it wasn't possible to function some of the operating theatres," Dr Potokar said. "Yesterday, there were three further strikes on the hospital and whilst I don't think there was an official evacuation order, patients, relatives, staff, everyone was carrying plastic bags and just trying to get out of the place. "They managed to transfer some patients to other hospitals, which was very difficult for them. Last night there were still seven patients left on the Intensive Care Unit. "They managed to transfer one or two last night and they're hoping to transfer the rest of those this morning and at that point will be no patients left in the hospital." Dr Potokar said the sound of bombardment and drones in the air is "constant" and the road to get out is "now quite dangerous". He said everyone is anxious and concerned about what will happen in the next day or two. "We're negotiating the safest way to get out because once there's no patients left here, there's no reason to still be here," he said. "We will transfer to different hospitals and start working in another hospital." This is Dr Potokar's sixteenth time in Gaza. He said he continues to return because there is "a clear need" for medical workers. "Anyone who has visited the Gaza Strip, they realise the injustice of what's going on here," he said. "But also the dignity of the Palestinian people, how much they have suffered and how little the rest of the world ever does to really help them." Earlier this month the Israeli government approved pans to expand the offensive, and spoke of the "conquest" of Gaza. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,928 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
