After enduring arrest and torture by Israeli forces, the hospital director has now witnessed the tragic loss of his brother and other relatives.
Published On 21 Sep 2025
Amid relentless Israeli military operations from land, air, and sea, Gaza City faces widespread devastation. Yet, for the gaza-hospital-attack/” title=”Fury Erupts as Israel's 'Double-Tap' Strike on … … Kills Five Journalists”>medical teams at al-Shifa Hospital-the largest healthcare facility in the city-abandoning their patients is unthinkable.
Once the premier medical institution in the Gaza Strip, al-Shifa has been largely reduced to rubble following multiple intense Israeli offensives since the conflict erupted in October 2023. Despite the destruction, Palestinians continue to regard the hospital as a beacon of endurance and hope.
The remnants of a former outpatient clinic have been repurposed into a makeshift emergency room, overwhelmed by the influx of Palestinians injured in the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, a section of the demolished surgical unit now serves as an intensive care area for critically ill patients confined to their beds.
In addition to the wounded, many displaced residents near the hospital are struggling to survive amid food shortages and continuous Israeli bombardments.
An Australian volunteer doctor currently serving at al-Shifa described the dire circumstances faced by the medical personnel.
“The resilience displayed by these healthcare workers is nothing short of heroic,” she shared with Al Jazeera. “Doctors, nurses, and medical students are not only treating patients but also living within the hospital walls.”
“Having been here for just two weeks, it’s unimaginable how much trauma and relentless effort they endure. It’s beyond what any person should have to withstand.”
Leading the hospital through these harrowing times is Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, who exemplifies steadfast leadership despite the overwhelming adversity.
Dr. Abu Salmiya endured over seven months of imprisonment by Israeli authorities, detained on unsubstantiated accusations that Hamas was operating from al-Shifa. He has recounted experiences of torture and degradation during his captivity, ultimately released without any formal charges.
Tragedy struck again when an Israeli airstrike targeted his family home, killing at least five relatives. Among the victims were his brother, sister-in-law, and their children, whose bodies were brought to al-Shifa Hospital.
“Despite the immense pressure, our medical teams persist in their humanitarian mission within this hospital,” Dr. Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili in Gaza City.
“Their unwavering commitment remains clear: to provide care to patients and the injured to the fullest extent possible.”
Al-Shifa is not the only healthcare facility devastated by Israeli military actions; numerous hospitals across Gaza have been reduced to ruins, crippling the enclave’s medical infrastructure.
Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, expressed solidarity with medical teams throughout the region who are enduring similar hardships.
“From the outset of this conflict, Israeli forces have targeted healthcare workers, imprisoning them and attacking their families,” he told Al Jazeera. “The death toll among medical personnel and first responders has reached unprecedented levels.”
“In Gaza, survival is threatened at every turn.”
