British consultant plastic surgeon Dr. Tom Potokar recorded the mayhem after one of the most lethal Israeli air strikes. He had been embedded in the European Gaza Hospital, witnessing the heartfelt work and aftermath firsthand. The hospital is situated close to the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. This is why Dr. Potokar has made 16 trips there, delivering life-saving medical care to patients who desperately need it.
On that fateful day, an air force dropped six bombs within a few miles of the hospital. This horrific assault killed 28 individuals—more than half of them children—and wounded nearly 125 others. As a result, Dr. Potokar recorded video of the event and provided the footage to the BBC. His videos are a visceral testament to the increasingly shaky ground that doctors—and patients—are standing on.
In a statement, Dr. Potokar shared his worries about the most recent air strike and the catastrophic effects it has had. He noted that, according to Israel, everything they did was targeted and focused on Hamas. For innocent civilians, the effects have been catastrophic.
On Thursday, continuous Israeli bombardment ripped through Gaza, killing no less than 114 Palestinians. That rescues and hospitals have confirmed this shocking death toll speaks to its magnitude. Humanitarian conditions at the European Gaza Hospital had become dire, with its evacuation occurring just days after the airstrike.
After witnessing the aftermath firsthand, Dr. Potokar shared what medical care looks like in a discontinuous environment.
“We’ve been treating patients with huge open wounds, some even with maggots in, infected, multiple amputations, children down to the age of two with significant nerve injuries, traumatic brain injuries,” – Dr. Tom Potokar.
The chaos following the air strike posed immense challenges for medical staff as they worked tirelessly to treat the injured. Faced with mounting casualties and dwindling supplies, the pressure on Gaza’s healthcare facilities intensified rapidly.
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