{"id":49469,"date":"2024-10-03T17:24:03","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T01:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=49469"},"modified":"2024-10-03T17:24:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T01:24:03","slug":"open-letter-from-american-healthcare-workers-who-volunteered-in-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2024\/10\/03\/open-letter-from-american-healthcare-workers-who-volunteered-in-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter From American Healthcare Workers Who Volunteered in Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since October 2023, dozens of American healthcare professionals have volunteered in Gaza, offering critical medical aid amidst unimaginable devastation. Many of these professionals have experience in other war zones like Ukraine and Syria, but nothing could prepare them for the overwhelming suffering they witnessed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

More information is available at www.gazahealthcareletters.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, read Dave DeCamp’s article: American Healthcare Workers Who Volunteered in Gaza Say Over 118,000 Have Been Killed<\/a><\/p>\n

Write the Biden-Harris administration: urge our government to meet with American healthcare professionals who have seen Gaza firsthand.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
\nPresident of the United States
\nThe White House
\nWashington, DC
\nUnited States of America<\/p>\n

The Honorable Kamala D. Harris
\nVice President of the United States
\nThe White House
\nWashington, DC
\nUnited States of America<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/em>October 2, 2024<\/p>\n

Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris,<\/p>\n

We are 99 American physicians, surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, and midwives who have volunteered in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Combined, we spent 254 weeks volunteering in Gaza\u2019s hospitals and clinics. We worked with various nongovernmental organizations and the World Health Organization in hospitals and clinics throughout the Strip. In addition to our medical and surgical expertise, many of us have a public health background, as well as experience working in humanitarian and conflict zones, including Ukraine during the brutal Russian invasion. Some of us are veterans and reservists. We are a multifaith and multiethnic group. None of us support the horrors committed on October 7 by Palestinian armed groups and individuals in Israel.<\/p>\n

The Constitution of the World Health Organization states: \u201cThe health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent on the fullest cooperation of individuals and States.\u201d It is in this spirit that we write to you in this open letter.<\/p>\n

We are among the only neutral observers who have been permitted to enter the Gaza Strip since October 7. Given our broad expertise and direct experience of working throughout Gaza we are uniquely positioned to comment on several matters of importance to our government as it decides whether to continue supporting Israel\u2019s attack on, and siege of, the Gaza Strip. Specifically, we believe we are well positioned to comment on the massive human toll from Israel\u2019s attack on Gaza, especially the toll it has taken on women and children.<\/p>\n

This letter collects and summarizes our own experiences and direct observations in Gaza. The letter is accompanied by a detailed appendix summarizing the publicly available information from media, humanitarian, and academic sources on key aspects of Israel\u2019s invasion of Gaza. Both this letter and the appendix are available electronically at GazaHealthcareLetters.org<\/a>. This website also houses letters from Canadian and British healthcare workers to their respective governments, making many similar observations to those herein.<\/p>\n

This letter and the appendix show probative evidence that the human toll in Gaza since October is far higher than is understood in the United States. It is likely that the death toll from this conflict is already greater than 118,908, an astonishing 5.4% of Gaza\u2019s population.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>Our government must act immediately to prevent an even worse catastrophe than what has already befallen the people of Gaza and Israel. A ceasefire must be imposed on the warring parties by withholding military support for Israel and supporting an international arms embargo on Israel and all Palestinian armed groups.<\/b><\/strong> We believe our government is obligated to do this, both under American law and International Humanitarian Law. We also believe it is the right thing to do.<\/p>\n

With only marginal exceptions, everyone<\/i><\/em> in Gaza is sick, injured, or both. This includes every national aid worker, every international volunteer, and probably every Israeli hostage: every man, woman, and child.<\/b><\/strong> While working in Gaza we saw widespread malnutrition in our patients and our Palestinian healthcare colleagues. Every one of us lost weight rapidly in Gaza despite having privileged access to food and having taken our own supplementary nutrient-dense food with us. We have photographic evidence of life-threatening malnutrition in our patients, especially children, that we are eager to share with you.<\/p>\n

Virtually every child under the age of five whom we encountered, both inside and outside of the hospital, had both a cough and watery diarrhea. We found cases of jaundice (indicating hepatitis A infection under such conditions) in nearly every room of the hospitals in which we served, and in many of our healthcare colleagues in Gaza. An astonishingly high percentage of our surgical incisions became infected from the combination of malnutrition, impossible operating conditions, lack of basic sanitation supplies such as soap, and lack of surgical supplies and medications, including antibiotics.<\/p>\n

Malnutrition led to widespread spontaneous abortions, underweight newborns, and an inability of new mothers to breastfeed. This left their newborns at high risk of death given the lack of access to potable water anywhere in Gaza. Many of those infants died. In Gaza we watched malnourished mothers feed their underweight newborns infant formula made with poisonous water. We can never forget that the world abandoned these innocent women and babies.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

We urge you to realize that epidemics are raging in Gaza. Israel\u2019s continued, repeated displacement of the malnourished and sick population of Gaza, half of whom are children, to areas without running water or even toilets available is absolutely shocking.<\/b><\/strong> It was and remains guaranteed to result in widespread death from viral and bacterial diarrheal diseases and pneumonias, particularly in children under the age of five. Indeed, even the dreaded polio virus has reemerged in Gaza due to a combination of systematic destruction of the sanitation infrastructure, widespread malnutrition weakening immune systems, and young children having missed routine vaccinations for nearly an entire year. We worry that unknown thousands have already died from the lethal combination of malnutrition and disease, and that tens of thousands more will die in the coming months, especially with the onset of the winter rains in Gaza. Most of them will be young children.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Children are universally considered innocents in armed conflict. However, every single signatory<\/i><\/em> to this letter saw children in Gaza who suffered violence that must<\/i><\/em> have been deliberately directed at them. Specifically, every one of us who worked in an emergency, intensive care, or surgical setting treated pre-teen children who were shot in the head or chest on a regular or even a daily basis<\/i><\/em>. It is impossible that such widespread shooting of young children throughout Gaza, sustained over the course of an entire year is accidental or unknown to the highest Israeli civilian and military authorities.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

President Biden and Vice President Harris, we wish you could see the nightmares that plague so many of us since we have returned: dreams of children maimed and mutilated by our weapons, and their inconsolable mothers begging us to save them. We wish you could hear the cries and screams our consciences will not let us forget. We cannot fathom why you continue arming the country that is deliberately killing these children en masse<\/i><\/em>.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

The pregnant and breastfeeding women we treated were particularly malnourished. Those of us who worked with pregnant women<\/b><\/strong> regularly saw stillbirths and maternal deaths that were easily preventable in any developing country\u2019s healthcare system. <\/b><\/strong>The rate of infection in C-section incisions was astonishing. Women underwent vaginal deliveries and even C-sections without anesthesia and were given nothing but Tylenol afterwards because no other pain medications were available.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

We all observed emergency departments overwhelmed by patients seeking treatment for chronic medical conditions such as renal failure, hypertension, and diabetes. Aside from trauma patients, most ICU beds were occupied by patients with type 1 diabetes who no longer had access to insulin. The lack of medication availability, the widespread loss of electricity and refrigeration, and inconsistent access to food made managing this disease impossible. Israel has destroyed more than half of Gaza\u2019s healthcare resources and has killed nearly one thousand Palestinian healthcare workers, more than one out of every 20 healthcare workers in Gaza. At the same time healthcare needs have increased massively from the lethal combination of military violence, malnutrition, disease, and displacement.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

The hospitals where we worked were starved of basic supplies from, surgical material to soap. They were regularly cut off from electricity and Internet access, denied clean water, and operated at four to seven times their bed capacity. Every hospital was overwhelmed beyond the breaking point by displaced persons seeking safety, by the constant stream of sick and malnourished patients seeking care, and by the huge influx of seriously wounded patients who typically arrived in mass casualty events.<\/p>\n

These observations and the publicly available material detailed in the appendix lead us to believe that the death toll from this conflict is many times higher<\/i><\/em> than what is reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. We also believe this is probative evidence of widespread violations of American laws governing the use of American weapons abroad, and of International Humanitarian Law. We cannot forget scenes of unbearable cruelty directed at women and children that our government is a direct participant in.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

As we met our healthcare colleagues in Gaza it was clear that they were malnourished, and both physically and mentally devastated. We quickly learned that our Palestinian healthcare colleagues were among the most traumatized people in Gaza, and perhaps in the entire world.<\/b><\/strong> Like virtually all people in Gaza they had lost family members and their homes. Most lived in and around their hospitals with their surviving family in unimaginable conditions. Although they continued working a grueling schedule, they had not been paid since October 7. All were acutely aware that their work as healthcare providers had marked them as targets for Israel. This makes a mockery of the protected status hospitals and healthcare providers are granted under the oldest and most widely accepted provisions of International Humanitarian Law.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

We met healthcare personnel in Gaza who worked at hospitals that had been raided and destroyed by Israel. Many of these colleagues of ours were taken by Israel during the attacks. They all told us a slightly different version of the same story: in captivity they were barely fed, continuously physically and psychologically abused, and finally dumped naked on the side of a road. Many told us they were subjected to mock executions and other forms of mistreatment and torture. Far too many of our healthcare colleagues told us they were simply waiting to die.<\/p>\n

The 99 signatories to this letter spent a combined 254 weeks inside Gaza\u2019s largest hospitals and clinics. We wish to be absolutely clear: not once did any of us see any type of Palestinian militant activity in any of Gaza\u2019s hospitals or other healthcare facilities.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

We urge you to see that Israel has systematically and deliberately devastated Gaza\u2019s entire healthcare system, and that Israel has targeted our colleagues in Gaza for torture, disappearance, and murder.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

President Biden and Vice President Harris, any solution to this problem must begin with an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We appreciate that you are working on a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but you have overlooked an obvious fact: the United States can impose a ceasefire on the warring parties by simply stopping arms shipments to Israel, and announcing that we will participate in an international arms embargo on both Israel and all Palestinian armed groups. We stress what many others have repeatedly told you over the past year: American law is perfectly clear on this matter, continuing to arm Israel is illegal.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

President Biden and Vice President Harris, we urge you to immediately <\/b><\/strong>withhold military, economic, and diplomatic support from the State of Israel and to participate in an international arms embargo of Israel and all Palestinian armed groups until a permanent ceasefire is established in Gaza, including the release of all Israeli and Palestinian hostages, and until a permanent resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is negotiated between the two parties. Vice President Harris, as the likely next president of the United States, we urge you to publicly announce your support for such a policy, and to state publicly that you are duty-bound to uphold the laws of the United States even when doing so is politically inconvenient.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are 99 American physicians and nurses who have witnessed crimes beyond comprehension. Crimes that we cannot believe you wish to continue supporting. Please meet with us to discuss what we saw, and why we feel American policy in the Middle East must change immediately.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the meantime, we reiterate what we wrote in our letter of July 25, 2024:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt must be immediately reopened, and must allow unfettered aid delivery by recognized international humanitarian organizations. Security screening of aid deliveries must be conducted by an independent international inspection regime instead of by Israeli forces. These screenings must be based on a clear, unambiguous, and published list of forbidden items, and with a clear independent international mechanism for challenging forbidden items, as verified by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory.<\/li>\n
  2. A bare minimum water allocation of 15L of potable water per person per day, the Sphere Handbook<\/a> minimum in a humanitarian emergency, must be allocated to the population of Gaza, as verified by UN Water.<\/li>\n
  3. Full and unrestricted access of medical and surgical professionals and medical and surgical equipment to the Gaza Strip must be resumed. This must include items taken in healthcare professionals\u2019 personal luggage to safeguard their proper storage, sterility, and timely delivery, as verified by the World Health Organization. Incredibly,<\/b><\/strong> Israel continues to block healthcare workers of Palestinian descent from working in Gaza, even American citizens. This makes a mockery of the American ideal that \u201call men are created equal\u201d and degrades both our national ideals and our profession. Our work is lifesaving. Our Palestinian healthcare colleagues in Gaza are desperate for relief and protection, and they deserve both.<\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We are not politicians. We do not claim to have all the answers. We are simply healing professionals who cannot remain silent about what we saw in Gaza. Every day that we continue supplying weapons and munitions to Israel is another day that women are shredded by our bombs and children are murdered with our bullets.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

    President Biden and Vice President Harris, we urge you: end this madness now<\/i><\/em>!<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Sincerely,<\/b><\/p>\n

    Feroze Sidhwa, MD, MPH, FACS, FICS<\/strong>
    \nTrauma, acute care, critical care, and general surgeon
    \nNorthern California Veterans Affairs general surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nSecretary\/Treasurer, Chest Wall Injury Society
    \nAssociate Professor of Surgery, California Northstate University College of Medicine
    \nPrior humanitarian work in Haiti, West Bank, Ukraine (3 deployments since 2023), and Zimbabwe
    \nTreated victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing
    \nFrench Camp, CA<\/p>\n

    Mark Perlmutter, MD, FAAOS, FICS<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic and hand surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nPresident, World Surgical Foundation
    \nGlobal Vice President, International College of Surgeons
    \nPrior humanitarian work in 30 countries
    \nTreated victims of 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina
    \nRocky Mount, NC<\/p>\n

    Thalia Pachiyannakis, MD, FACOG<\/strong>
    \nObstetrician and gynecologist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, June 20-July 11
    \nSouth Bend, IN<\/p>\n

    Adam Hamawy, MD<\/strong>
    \nPlastic and reconstructive surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-21
    \nLt. Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)
    \nPrinceton, NJ<\/p>\n

    Bing Li, MD<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, June 6-13
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, June 14-20
    \nServed at Indonesian Hospital, Beit Lahia, June 21-July 3
    \nU.S. Army Veteran
    \nPeridot, AZ<\/p>\n

    Mike M. Mallah, MD<\/strong>
    \nTrauma, acute care, critical care, and general surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, March 4-18
    \nAssistant Professor of Surgery
    \nDirector of Global Surgery Program|
    \nCharleston, SC<\/p>\n

    John Kahler, MD, FAAP<\/strong>
    \nPediatrician
    \nCo-founder, MedGlobal
    \nServed at Primary Care Clinics, Rafah, January 8-24
    \nServed at Kamal Adwan Hospital and Nutrition Center, Beit Lahia, March 4-25
    \nChicago, IL<\/p>\n

    Nina Ng, MSN, RN<\/strong>
    \nEmergency nurse
    \nServed at Indonesian Field Hospital and Tal al-Sultan Primary Health Clinic March 4-11
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital (Deir el-Balah), Emirati Hospital for Women and Children (Rafah), and al-Najjar Hospital (Rafah) April 17-22
    \nPresident, Help Me Live
    \nNew York City, NY Monica Johnston, RN, BSN, CCRN
    \nAdult and pediatric critical care, burn, and wound care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nPortland, OR<\/p>\n

    Laura Swoboda, DNP, APNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF<\/strong>
    \nWound nurse practitioner
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 17
    \nMilwaukee, WI<\/p>\n

    Merril Tydings, BSN, RN, CEN<\/strong>
    \nFlight, emergency, and critical care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 24-February 7
    \nSanta Fe, NM<\/p>\n

    Margaret Ogden, MPH, RN, CCRN<\/strong>
    \nCritical care, emergency, and trauma nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 19-March 4
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 16-August 13
    \nPrior humanitarian work in Haiti, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Kenya
    \nSeattle, WA<\/p>\n

    Steve Whiteley, MD<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah June 21-August 1
    \nPrior humanitarian work in Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, Uganda, Iraq, and Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders
    \nSonoma, CA<\/p>\n

    Brenda J. Maldonado, RN<\/strong>
    \nEmergency nurse
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, April 15-28
    \nPrior humanitarian work in Ukraine, Iraq, and Bangladesh
    \nVancouver, WA<\/p>\n

    Wilhelmi Massay, BSN, BA-Ed, TNCC<\/strong>
    \nCritical care and trauma nurse
    \nServed at Indonesian Hospital, Deir el-Balah and Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 24-August 15
    \nOmaha, NE<\/p>\n

    Deborah Weidner, MD, MBA<\/strong>
    \nGeneral, child, and adolescent psychiatrist
    \nNasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, August 15-September 13
    \nAmerican Red Cross volunteer
    \nHartford, CT<\/p>\n

    Bridget Rochios, RN, MSN, CNM, WHNP<\/strong>
    \nMidwife and reproductive health nurse
    \nServed at Emirati Hospital for Women and Children, Rafah, May 1-28
    \nSan Francisco, CA<\/p>\n

    Vanita Gupta, MD<\/strong>
    \nCritical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 29-February 8
    \nWhite Plains, NY<\/p>\n

    Gamal Marey, MD, FACS, FACC<\/strong>
    \nGeneral and cardiothoracic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nLt. Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
    \nStockton, CA<\/p>\n

    Sarah Badran, MD, MACM, FPICCS, FSCAI<\/strong>
    \nPediatric cardiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 22
    \nGrand Rapids, MI<\/p>\n

    Victoria Aveson, MD<\/strong>
    \nGeneral surgeon
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, September 3-29
    \nNew York City, NY<\/p>\n

    Thaer Ahmad, MD<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis & al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, January 8-24
    \nDirector of Global Health, Advocate Christ Medical Center
    \nAssistant Clinical Professor, University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine
    \nChicago, IL<\/p>\n

    Tanya Haj-Hassan, BM BCh, MSc<\/strong>
    \nPediatric intensivist
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, March 11-25
    \nPrior humanitarian work with Doctors Without Borders in Liberia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Chad, Burkina Fasso, Kenya, and Uganda
    \nPrior humanitarian work in the West Bank and Gaza
    \nRhodes Scholar
    \nPhiladelphia, PA<\/p>\n

    Nahreen Ahmed, MD, MPH<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, January 8-21
    \nServed at the MedGlobal\/WHO Nutrition Center, Rafah,; al-Awda Hospital, Gaza City & Kamal Adwan Hospital, Beit Lahia March 4-18
    \nFormer medial director, MedGlobal
    \nPrevious humanitarian work in Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, and Sudan
    \nPhiladelphia, PA<\/p>\n

    Talal Khan, MD, FACP, FASN, FRCP<\/strong>
    \nNephrologist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 16-August 13
    \nClinical Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
    \nOklahoma City, OK<\/p>\n

    Asma A. Taha, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC\/AC, FAAN<\/strong>
    \nPediatric nurse practitioner
    \nServed at Emirati Hospital for Women and Children, Rafah, February 15-March 1
    \nPresident, Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
    \nProfessor of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
    \nPortland, OR<\/p>\n

    Imad Tamimi, DMD<\/strong>
    \nOral and maxillofacial surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 8-20
    \nClinical Associate Professor, Rutgers New Jersey School of Dental Medicine
    \nPresident, Palestine Children\u2019s Relief Fund Medical Advisory Board
    \nClifton, NJ<\/p>\n

    Chandra Hassan, MD, FACS, FRCS<\/strong>
    \nGeneral, bariatric, minimally invasive, and robotic surgeon
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis & al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, January 9-23
    \nBoard Member, MedGlobal
    \nPrior humanitarian work in Ukraine and Syria
    \nAssociate Professor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine
    \nChicago, IL<\/p>\n

    Hani El-Omrani, MD<\/strong>
    \nObstetric and regional anesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 4-18
    \nAssistant Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
    \nSeattle, WA<\/p>\n

    Zaher Sahloul, MD, FCCP<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, January 9-25
    \nPresident, MedGlobal
    \nAssociate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
    \n2020 Gandhi Peace Award recipient
    \nChicago, IL<\/p>\n

    Mohamed Elfar, MD, MSc, FACS, FCCM<\/strong>
    \nPlastic and reconstructive surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 8-20
    \nAssistant Professor of Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University
    \nAdjunct Professor of Surgery, Touro University New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
    \nNew York City, NY<\/p>\n

    Hisham Qandeel, MD<\/strong>
    \nCardiothoracic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 18-April 1
    \nClinical Assistant Professor, Michigan State University Medical Schools
    \nLansing, MI<\/p>\n

    Ammar Ghanem, MD, FCCP<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nClinical Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    \nLansing, MI<\/p>\n

    Abeerah Muhammad, MSN, RN, CEN<\/strong>
    \nEmergency and critical care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Ayman Abdul-Ghani, MD, FACS, FRCS<\/strong>
    \nCardiothoracic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nClinical Associate Professor, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
    \nHonolulu, HI<\/p>\n

    Lana Abugharbieh, BSN, RN, CEN<\/strong>
    \nTrauma, operating room, and emergency nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis & Primary Care Clinics, Rafah, January 24-February 7
    \nAshburn, VA<\/p>\n

    Rana Mahmoud, RN, BSN<\/strong>
    \nEmergency and critical care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 22-February 6 & March 25-April 8
    \nWesley Chapel, FL<\/p>\n

    Tarek Gouda, RN, AACN<\/strong>
    \nCritical care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 5-13
    \nSan Diego, CA<\/p>\n

    Hina Syed, MD<\/strong>
    \nInternal medicine and geriatric medicine physician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, April 1-10
    \nCollege Park, MD<\/p>\n

    Aman Odeh, MBBS, FAAP<\/strong>
    \nPediatrician
    \nServed at Emirati Hospital for Women and Children, Rafah, March 20 to April 1
    \nAssistant Professor of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School
    \nAustin, TX<\/p>\n

    Thaer Daifallah, DDS, FACS<\/strong>
    \nOral and maxillofacial surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 22-February 5
    \nProgram director, Oral and maxillofacial residency, and Associate Professor, University of Missouri Kansas City
    \nKansas City, MO<\/p>\n

    Tammy Abughnaim, MD<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, March 6-20
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 24-August 15
    \nChicago, IL<\/p>\n

    Dhiaa Daoud, MD, MSC, FACEP<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at European Hospital, Rafah, March 15-April 1
    \nPresident and founder, Doctors for Hope Foundation
    \nIndian River, FL<\/p>\n

    Bilal Hussain Piracha, MD, MS<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, March 7-19 and July 18-24
    \nServed at Ahli Arab Episcopal Hospital, Gaza City, July 25-August 1
    \nAssistant professor, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Khaled J Saleh, MD, MPH, MHCM, FRCS, CPE, FAAOS<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 2-10
    \nClinical professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, & Wayne State University School of Medicine
    \nPresident, Fajr Scientific
    \nDetroit, MI<\/p>\n

    M Umar Burney, MD, MBA, FAAOS<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 2-9
    \nFounder and Chair, Gift of Disability Alleviation
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Yousef Khelfa, MD, FACP<\/strong>
    \nHematologist and oncologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 22-February 5
    \nMedical Director, Diana J. White Cancer Institute
    \nSonora, CA<\/p>\n

    Zena Saleh, MD<\/strong>
    \nGeneral surgery resident
    \nServed at al-Najjar Hospital, Rafah, April 15-May 2
    \nCamden, NJ<\/p>\n

    Karim Fikry, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 8-15
    \nDivision Director, Anesthesia Critical Care, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
    \nBurlington, MA<\/p>\n

    Ramin Pirouz, MD, JD<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, August 8-22
    \nChair of Medicine and Director of Critical Care Medicine, Calvert Health Medical Center
    \nPrince Frederick, MD<\/p>\n

    Yassar Arain, MD, FAAP<\/strong>
    \nNeonatologist
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital and European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 15-24
    \nFulbright Scholar, Egypt, 2007-8
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Usman Shah, MD<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 17
    \nMedical Director of Crescent Free Clinic, Fullerton, CA
    \nOrange County, CA<\/p>\n

    Mohammad Subeh, MD, MS<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician and ultrasound specialist
    \nServed at the International Medical Corps Rafah Field Hospital, February 14-March 13
    \nServed at the International Medical Corps Deir el-Balah Field Hospital, June 25-July 18
    \nMountain View, CA<\/p>\n

    Mahmoud G. Sabha, MD<\/strong>
    \nFamily medicine and wound care physician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, March 25-April 3
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Ahmed Hassabelnaby, DO<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 18-April 1
    \nServed at Indonesian Hospital, Beit Lahia, June 20-July 3
    \nOrlando, FL<\/p>\n

    Mohammed J. al-Jaghbeer, MD, FCCP<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nCleveland, OH<\/p>\n

    Waleed Sayedahmad, MD, PhD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nParkland, FL<\/p>\n

    Amer Afaneh, MD, FACS<\/strong>
    \nTrauma, acute care, critical care, and general surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nToledo, OH<\/p>\n

    Omer Ismail, MD, FACS<\/strong>
    \nTrauma, acute care, critical care, and general surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-21
    \nDes Moines, IA<\/p>\n

    Abdalrahman Algendy, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 19-March 5
    \nToledo, OH<\/p>\n

    Mohamad Abdelfattah, MD<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nLos Angeles, CA<\/p>\n

    Irfan Galaria, MD, MBA<\/strong>
    \nPlastic and reconstructive surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 29-February 7
    \nChantilly, VA<\/p>\n

    Mohammed Khaleel, MD, MS<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic and spine surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 3-10
    \nFort Worth, TX<\/p>\n

    Salman Dasti, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist
    \nServed at European Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, June 20-July 4
    \nSan Francisco, CA<\/p>\n

    Bashar Alzghoul, MD, FCCP<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 25-April 8
    \nGainesville, FL<\/p>\n

    Ndal Farah, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 8-20
    \nToledo, OH<\/p>\n

    Tamer Hassen, BSN<\/strong>
    \nTrauma and emergency nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 22
    \nBedford, MA<\/p>\n

    Ahmad Yousaf, MD, MBA<\/strong>
    \nInternal medicine physician and pediatrician
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, June 24-July 16
    \nLittle Rock, AK<\/p>\n

    Ahmed Ebeid, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist and pain specialist
    \nServed at Kamal Adwan Hospital, Beit Lahia, March 25-April 13
    \nPortland, OR<\/p>\n

    Nadia Yousef, MD<\/strong>
    \nNephrologist
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, June 18-July 3
    \nModesto, CA<\/p>\n

    Hina Cheema, MD<\/strong>
    \nObstetrician and gynecologist
    \nServed at Emirati Hospital, Rafah, March 6-20
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, June 18-July 11
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Jomana Al-Hinti, MD<\/strong>
    \nNeurologist and movement disorders specialist
    \nServed at European Hospital, May 1-21
    \nToledo, OH<\/p>\n

    Haleh Sheikholeslami, MD, FAAFP<\/strong>
    \nFamily medicine physician and integrative medicine specialist
    \nServed at Tal al-Sultan Outpatient Clinic, Rafah, May 1-24
    \nMountain View, CA<\/p>\n

    Alia Kattan, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 17
    \nNewport Beach, CA<\/p>\n

    Sameer Khan<\/strong>
    \nCardiac anesthesiologist and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 17
    \nNewport Beach, CA<\/p>\n

    Rassoul Abu-Nuwar, MD, FACS, FASMBS<\/strong>
    \nGeneral, advanced GI, bariatric, foregut surgeon, and surgical endoscopist
    \nServed at: European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 12 to February 4
    \nFounder and President, Jordanian-American Physicians Association
    \nBoston, MA<\/p>\n

    Azeem Elahi, MD<\/strong>
    \nPulmonary and critical care intensivist
    \nServed at European Hospital and al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, April 15-24
    \nCharlotte, NC<\/p>\n

    Aasif Kazi, MD<\/strong>
    \nOtolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 3-8
    \nLoma Linda, CA<\/p>\n

    Raed Otoom, MSN, BSN, RN, CES-A<\/strong>
    \nECMO and vascular access nurse specialist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 29-May 22
    \nWashington, DC<\/p>\n

    Haseeb Khawaja, MD<\/strong>
    \nInternal medicine physician
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 1-14
    \nServed at European Hospital, June 12-July 1
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, July 3-11
    \nDetroit, MI<\/p>\n

    Mohammed Hisham Naji, MD, FACS<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 22-February 6
    \nPresident, DC Chapter, Syrian American Medical Association
    \nVienna, VA<\/p>\n

    Jawad A. Khan, MD, MPH<\/strong>
    \nHand and upper extremity surgeon
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, April 1-11
    \nLake Forrest, CA<\/p>\n

    Ahram Ali, MD, MS<\/strong>
    \nPediatric critical care intensivist
    \nServed at Emirati Hospital for Women and Children, Rafah, February 16-28
    \nLos Angeles, CA<\/p>\n

    Abdullah Brown, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, February 8-20
    \nHerndon, VA<\/p>\n

    Abdullah Ghali, MD<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic surgery resident
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 3-8
    \nHouston, TX<\/p>\n

    Khawaja Nimr Ikram, DO<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, January 26-February 8
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Kanwal Chaudhry, MD<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 14-24
    \nNew York City, NY<\/p>\n

    Syed Irfan Qasim Ali, MD<\/strong>
    \nAnesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 1-10
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Nabeel Rana, MD<\/strong>
    \nGeneral and vascular surgeon
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyr\u2019s Hospital, Deir el-Balah, June 20-July 9
    \nCharlotte, NC<\/p>\n

    Abdallah Abusalah, RN, BSN<\/strong>
    \nCritical care and trauma nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 18-April 1
    \nDetroit, MI<\/p>\n

    Syed M. Sayeed, MD, FACS<\/strong>
    \nPlastic and reconstructive surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 16-24
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, April 24-27
    \nServed at Tal al-Sultan Outpatient Clinic, Rafah, April 29-May 1
    \nNew York City, NY<\/p>\n

    Ayaz Pathan, MD, MBA, FACEP<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at Indonesian Hospital, Beit Lahia & Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 25-August 15
    \nDivisional President, ApolloMD
    \nRaleigh, NC<\/p>\n

    Mahmooda Syed, DO, MBA, FACEP<\/strong>
    \nEmergency medicine physician
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, August 8-September 5
    \nSeattle, WA<\/p>\n

    Amr Abdelgawad, MD, MBA<\/strong>
    \nPediatric and trauma orthopedic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 3-15
    \nBrooklyn, NY<\/p>\n

    Ali Elaydi, MD<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic and spine surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, April 3-10
    \nDallas, TX<\/p>\n

    Bara Zuhaili, MD, MPH, FACS, DFSVS, RPVI<\/strong>
    \nVascular surgeon
    \nServed at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, January 22-February 6
    \nServed at Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, July 23-August 4
    \nFlint, MI<\/p>\n

    Mohammed Z Rahman, RN<\/strong>
    \nCritical care nurse
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, March 4-18
    \nLongwood, FL<\/p>\n

    Jiab Suleiman, DO, MS<\/strong>
    \nOrthopedic surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, and Kuwait Specialty Hospital, February 19-March 5 and April 1-15
    \nDetroit, MI<\/p>\n

    Ahmad Hussain, MD, FACS<\/strong>
    \nVascular surgeon
    \nServed at European Hospital, Khan Younis, May 1-17
    \nLos Angeles, CA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Since October 2023, dozens of American healthcare professionals have volunteered in Gaza, offering critical medical aid amidst unimaginable devastation. Many of these professionals have experience in other war zones like Ukraine and Syria, but nothing could prepare them for the overwhelming suffering they witnessed. More information is available at www.gazahealthcareletters.org. Also, read Dave DeCamp’s article: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":638,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-49469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"meta_box":{"disable_donate_message":"","custom_donate_message":"","subtitle":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49469"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49495,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49469\/revisions\/49495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49469"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=49469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}