Dr Ahmed Sabra, a consultant cardiologist at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, was separated from his family and stranded in war-torn Gaza when his wife and children were allowed into Egypt. He has expressed his relief to be back in the UK but is worried about his parents and siblings still there. Dr Sabra had been visiting other relatives when the conflict began, and his home in Gaza was bombed and destroyed.
Speaking about the “terrifying experience,” Dr Sabra shared that at the beginning, they were not sleeping, but by week two, they had got used to the continual bombing and the sound of war planes. He stated that “every time there was bombing, we just hugged each other. . . it felt like we were just waiting for death to come.” He attributes the lack of food and water as the main reason that it was difficult to survive in Gaza, and shelter was scarce. There was no electricity or water, and they used fire to cook because there was no gas or electricity.
Dr Sabra’s family was able to cross into Egypt after travelling to the Rafah crossing, but he was turned away initially because his name was left off a list of British nationals. Four days later, his name was added, and he was able to leave Gaza. While he is happy to be reunited with his family, his relief and happiness is not complete, as his heart is still bleeding for what he witnessed and left behind.
Dr Sabra’s plight follows Israel’s major military campaign in Gaza, with the aim of eliminating Hamas. It is in retaliation for the 7 October cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen that killed 1,200 people and took an estimated 240 people hostage. The Hamas-run health ministry has reported the death toll in Gaza has reached 12,300 people following Israel’s counter-attack, with more than 2,000 people thought to be buried under the rubble.
Dr Sabra lost one of his cousins after her house was bombed, and he fears a public health crisis due to so many of the dead being buried under the rubble. He is calling for an end to the violence and peace for both sides
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