It has been a year since the war between Israel and Hamas began, a conflict that has brought untold devastation to the Gaza Strip. The days since October 7 have turned into months of continuous bombing, displacement and desperation. For people living in Gaza, the conflict has taken away their homes, their loved ones, and their sense of normalcy. It is not just buildings that have collapsed, but entire lives – careers, dreams, families – have been shattered by the horrors of war.
The numbers tell only part of the story. Behind every statistic is a personal tragedy. Homes are now reduced to rubble, hospitals flooded and the world helplessly watches the conflict deepen. The war has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, turning vibrant communities into mere shadows of their former forms. For survivors, daily life is a constant struggle, and yet within that struggle, there are those who carry on.
One such person is Dr. Khaled Alshawa, a 31-year-old surgeon from Gaza City. Khalid, like many in his community, never planned to be on the front lines of a humanitarian crisis. Just a week before the battle, he had completed his surgical training at Almacasd Hospital, a prestigious medical institution in Jerusalem. He returned to Gaza for a brief family visit to reunite with loved ones before continuing his career.
But then the war started and everything changed. In an instant, Khaled found himself in the middle of one of the most brutal conflicts ever seen in Gaza, unable to leave, forced to stay and help.
“The immediate result was chaos,” recalls Khalid. “We faced a massive influx of seriously injured patients with limited medical supplies and infrastructure. This became overwhelming and intense after the destruction of many hospitals. As a doctor, I have to prioritize cases, often making difficult decisions with minimal resources.”
Khaled, a surgeon trained to perform the most complex procedures, was forced to make rapid, painful decisions with almost no support.
“Life has changed drastically. I am constantly struggling with being a surgeon, managing medical points, providing me and my family with basic daily needs like fresh water, food and a place to stay amid a severe lack of resources and ongoing bombardment. Struggling to provide.” Khalid said.
The injuries that filled the hospitals were devastating: shrapnel wounds, blast injuries, complex fractures, severe burns and painful amputations. “Many injuries involve multiple body parts,” he explains, “requiring teams of surgeons to work together.” But with the healthcare system on the verge of collapse, they do not have access to expertise. “We are shocked beyond belief. A surgeon may have to handle trauma, pediatric surgery, even urology and vascular procedures simultaneously. It is physically and mentally exhausting.”
The situation is made worse by the fact that medical supplies are running low. Basic necessities – anesthetics, stitches, bandages, antibiotics – are in short supply. “We have to improve,” he says. “In some cases, we had no choice but to turn to telemedicine and rely on colleagues abroad for guidance.”
The chaos of war meant that Khalid’s life was in constant motion. “I have been transferred seven times since the war began,” he says, “each transfer a desperate attempt to keep his family safe.” Along with the ups and downs of the conflict, the basis of its operation has also changed. “I have volunteered in almost every hospital in Gaza City,” he says, because the nature of the war forced him to be flexible. “Wherever I go, I try to do whatever little help I can.”
For Khalid, each new base brings with it new challenges. He describes the scenes with vividness – overcrowded refugee camps, where families live together in makeshift shelters while trying to survive amid Israeli air strikes. “Infection control is almost impossible in these conditions,” he says, pointing to the lack of sanitation and clean water. Disease is spreading rapidly due to overcrowding in the camps. “We are seeing infections in open wounds, as well as skin diseases in previously healthy people.”
These camps, says Khalid, are where the most vulnerable women and children suffer the most. “Maternity and pediatric care have been severely impacted,” he says. “Many women are giving birth in unsafe environments, and children are deprived of basic health care.” Crucial vaccination programs to protect children from preventable diseases have also been disrupted. Khaled himself was involved in a recent polio vaccination campaign organized by the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Despite enormous challenges, including maintaining cold chains for vaccines in areas without electricity, the team managed to vaccinate more than 120,000 children under the age of ten in northern Gaza.
But it is not enough.
The strain on Gaza’s healthcare system is unprecedented, and the long-term impact of the war on public health is staggering. “The magnitude of disability that we are seeing is appalling,” says Khalid. The consequences of increased amputations, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain damage will last for decades. “These are injuries that will require years, if not a lifetime, of care,” he warns. “The health care system is simply not equipped to deal with this.”
Like many people in Gaza, Khaled’s personal loss is intertwined with the collective grief of his people. “I lost my mother in a bombing,” he revealed. Apart from his mother, he has lost his home and many close friends. But despite this immense personal loss, Khalid remains steadfast. “It’s tough,” he admits. “Psychologically, it’s very hard. The constant pressure, the loss, the fear for your family – it takes its toll.”
And yet, like many others in Gaza, Khaled is continuing to move forward. “Staying focused on helping others is what keeps me going,” he says, even though there are moments when the burden feels unbearable. “Every day is a struggle,” he admits. “But I can’t give up, not when there are so many people depending on us.”
The war in Gaza is not being fought alone. The Israeli-Hamas conflict has attracted international players, with each new development coming the risk of wider regional conflict. Israeli air strikes have intensified in Lebanon, killing hundreds of people. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has stepped up its exchanges with Israel, meaning the war has spread far beyond Gaza’s borders.
In Europe, the conflict has sparked political reaction. Countries such as Spain and Ireland have recognized the State of Palestine, defying Israeli opposition. On the other hand, the United States continues to provide military and financial support to Israel, recently approving an $8.7 billion aid package. For Palestinians like Khalid, international aid is vital to the survival of Gaza’s healthcare system, yet the future of that support remains uncertain.
The United Nations estimates that about 80,000 homes have been destroyed, and it could take decades to rebuild the city. Khalid agrees. “It will take years, perhaps even decades, to get Gaza’s health infrastructure back on track,” says Khaled. “Without adequate international aid, the recovery will be slow, and people will continue to suffer.”
But the road to recovery is long and the scars of this war will last for generations.
