Gaza – September 20, 2025 – An Australian doctor volunteering in Gaza has described the catastrophic conditions inside the enclave’s hospitals, likening the situation to “an abattoir” as Israel’s assault continues.
Dr. Saya Aziz, who arrived in Gaza on September 9 to treat the wounded, spoke of the overwhelming horror she has witnessed while trying to save lives without adequate equipment, medicine, or functioning hospitals.
“It’s like an abattoir. Even an abattoir, which has some hygienic methods of killing. [Palestinians are] not animals – they’re humans,” Aziz said.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Gaza’s medical infrastructure has collapsed after nearly two years of relentless bombardment, with hospitals destroyed or forced to operate far beyond capacity. Doctors and nurses say they are left to treat patients on bare floors, often without access to anesthesia, antibiotics, or clean water.
Aziz said the scale of injuries is unlike anything she has seen before. “We are performing amputations without proper surgical tools. Children are brought in with catastrophic wounds every single day. The suffering is unimaginable.”
A call for urgent help
Medical charities have repeatedly warned that Gaza lacks the basic means to provide life-saving care to the tens of thousands of injured. Israel’s ongoing siege has cut off the entry of essential medical supplies, while repeated strikes on ambulances and hospitals have further crippled the health system.
For Aziz and other international volunteers, the experience is devastating. “We came here to save lives, but the truth is, without proper resources, we are forced to watch people die in front of us,” she said.
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