Surgeon says Gaza ‘like an atomic bomb has dropped’

**Interview with Professor Nizam Mamode: Experiences in Gaza**

**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Professor Mamode. You recently spent a month volunteering at Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Could you share what your daily experiences were like during that time?

**Professor Mamode:** Thank you for having me. Every day was overwhelming. I encountered the aftermath of bombings and shootings—often witnessing 10 to 20 deaths and treating up to 40 patients with serious injuries. It was heartbreaking to witness the toll this conflict was taking, particularly since so many victims were women and children.

**Interviewer:** That sounds incredibly challenging. You mentioned that the hospital you worked at was the last major facility still operating in Gaza. What was the environment like there?

**Professor Mamode:** The hospital was under immense pressure. Following Israeli Defense Force raids earlier this year, it felt like we were operating on the brink. We faced one or two mass casualty events daily due to bombings and drone strikes. The strain on the medical staff was palpable, but we did everything we could to manage the situation.

**Interviewer:** Having worked in various conflict zones before, how did your experience in Gaza compare to those?

**Professor Mamode:** Honestly, it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. As soon as you cross the border into Gaza, it feels as if an atomic bomb has dropped. You see rubble stretching for miles, and as you drive through, there are only a few armed looters present. Then you reach the central area where about a million and a half people are crammed into a small space, living in makeshift tents on every available piece of land.

**Interviewer:** That’s a disturbing picture. What kinds of injuries did you typically encounter?

**Professor Mamode:** The majority of cases I dealt with were trauma-related. Many patients were missing arms or legs. One of the biggest shocks for me was the relentless nature of these injuries. Nearly every day, we were inundated with casualties, and this has been a grim reality for about a year now.

**Interviewer:** How has this experience impacted you personally?

**Professor Mamode:** It’s hard to put into words. Witnessing such daily suffering weighs heavily on the spirit. Nevertheless, despite the horrors, I feel a strong urge to continue helping. I would be willing to return to Gaza if I’m needed again. This is an urgent humanitarian crisis, and organizations like Medical Aid for Palestinians have been crucial in providing support since they began their work there in 1982.

**Interviewer:** Thank you, Professor Mamode, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Your commitment to helping those affected by war is truly commendable.