DaysofPal—American pediatrician and member of the Board of Directors of Doctors Without Borders in the US, Aqsa Dourani, shared her testimony after a humanitarian mission in Gaza, confirming that “Israel deliberately uses cruelty and evil” in a genocide against the population there.
In her testimony published on the “Humans of New York” blog, Dourani documented the siege and starvation imposed by the Israeli occupation, along with continuous bombardment and severe injuries to children.
Dourani stated that the Israeli occupation imposed strict restrictions even on the amount of food she could bring in, limiting her to seven pounds only.
She questioned, “I am a doctor working in humanitarian aid; why is there even a limit on food? I have worked in areas with severe hunger, but Gaza shows unprecedented cruelty.”
Describing her experience, she said, “I stayed in Gaza for two months and found no words to describe the horror happening there. I see children dying in the pediatric intensive care unit as part of my job.”
She added that the medical staff are working while hungry and exhausted, some living in tents, with many having lost dozens of family members due to Israeli bombardment.
Regarding the children’s injuries, she said, “There are children with mutilations, missing limbs, and third-degree burns. Often, there isn’t enough pain medication. But the children do not scream because of pain, they scream, ‘I’m hungry! I’m hungry!'”
Dourani expressed deep sorrow, saying, “I hate focusing only on the children because no one should starve, but children chase you differently.”
At the end of her mission in Gaza, her sadness was evident, describing a feeling she had not experienced in nearly twenty years of humanitarian work.
She expressed shame at leaving Palestinian doctors, whom she described as some of the kindest and most compassionate people she has ever met.
“I felt ashamed as an American, as a human being, because we could not stop any part of this genocide,” she said.
She recalled leaving southern Gaza, describing the last view from her bus window: “All I saw of Rafah city was rubble, while on the other side, “Israel” was enjoying life! When we left the gate, the first thing I saw was a group of Israeli soldiers sitting at a table eating lunch. I have never felt nauseous seeing a table full of food before.”
Since October 7, 2023, Gaza has been enduring a comprehensive genocide affecting all aspects of life, under a severe siege and strict restrictions on food and medical aid entry, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
The World Health Organization has called for the immediate reopening of crossings and unimpeded humanitarian aid access, stressing that saving civilians’ lives in Gaza require urgent international action.
The United Nations has confirmed that Gaza needs hundreds of aid trucks daily to end the famine caused by the ongoing siege and genocide, lasting 22 months.
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