DaysofPal- Mads Gilbert, an emergency medicine doctor renowned for his extensive work in Gaza, has delivered a harrowing assessment of the current situation in the besieged enclave.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from Tromso, Norway, Gilbert condemned the recent attack on al-Ahli Arab Hospital, stating that it effectively amounts to “a death sentence” for anyone requiring urgent medical care in northern Gaza.
A Lifeline Reduced to Ruins
Gilbert, who has spent years working in Gaza and is intimately familiar with its healthcare system, described al-Ahli Arab Hospital as “a well-run, very important medical institution in north Gaza.” The hospital has long served as a critical lifeline for thousands of patients, particularly during the ongoing Israeli assault.
However, the targeting of this facility—and others like it—has left civilians and wounded individuals without access to life-saving treatment.
Referring to the Israeli occupation’s repeated claims that Hamas uses hospitals as command centers, Gilbert dismissed the allegations as baseless. “The Israeli occupation has never, ever been able to show any evidence or proof that Palestinian hospitals have been used as command centers,” he said.
Instead, these attacks are part of what he described as a deliberate strategy to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
A Cowardly and Sadistic Attack
Gilbert expressed outrage at the nature of the attack on al-Ahli Hospital, which occurred under the cover of darkness.
“What kind of cowardly, sadistic and completely amoral army will attack a hospital with sick and wounded people in the middle of the night?” he asked.
Such actions, he argued, reflect not only a disregard for human life but also a calculated effort to exacerbate suffering and despair among Gaza’s population.
The destruction of hospitals, coupled with the blockade preventing the entry of medical supplies, has created a catastrophic health crisis.
Patients with traumatic injuries, chronic conditions, or surgical needs face near-certain death without access to adequate care. For Gilbert, this represents more than just collateral damage—it is a systematic attempt to undermine the resilience of Gaza’s people.
In one of his most poignant statements, Gilbert remarked, “I think I actually prefer to be in hell than to be in Gaza now.”
His words encapsulate the sheer magnitude of suffering endured by Gazans, who face not only relentless bombardment and deprivation but also the psychological torment of being abandoned by the international community.
“What’s going on is a very systematic, very cynical and … sadistic way of undermining people’s capacity to live,” Gilbert explained. He emphasized that the attacks on hospitals, alongside the blockade of food, water, and fuel, are designed to break the spirit of Gaza’s population and strip them of their basic humanity.
A Plea for Humanity and Accountability
Gilbert’s condemnation echoes growing calls from humanitarian organizations and global advocates for accountability. The systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, constitutes a grave violation of international law.
Under the Geneva Conventions, attacking medical facilities and personnel is considered a war crime—a fact that underscores the urgency of addressing Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Despite mounting evidence of atrocities, however, powerful nations continue to shield Israeli occupation from scrutiny, enabling the continuation of policies that Gilbert describes as “sadistic.” Human rights groups argue that the world’s failure to intervene not only perpetuates the suffering of Gazans but also emboldens further violations of international norms.
As Mads Gilbert’s impassioned words reverberate across the globe, they serve as a stark reminder of the moral imperative to act. The people of Gaza—particularly its children, elderly, and infirm—are enduring unimaginable horrors, their cries for help drowned out by the deafening silence of complicity.
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