Gaza medical crisis: WhatsApp group exposes deaths and destruction of doctors amid conflict
What began as a WhatsApp group for doctors has turned into a forum for sharing news of deaths and disappearances amid Gaza's ongoing war.
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military is destroying medical facilities in Gaza and debilitating the health care system there, 14 doctors and two nurses told NBC News, a campaign they all said includes detaining and killing medical staff in their workplaces and in their homes.
The Israeli military has defended its actions by saying the medical facilities in Gaza are being used as operating bases for Hamas, but either way, the scenes are harrowing.
A photograph shared with NBC News shows Israeli soldiers, rifles drawn, at Al Khair hospital as people stand with their hands up. Nearby, at Nasser Hospital, video shows a tank rolling through the streets and the sound of automatic gunfire as the Israeli military stormed the complex on Feb. 14, the facility’s corridors filled with smoke, debris and chaos.
“They attacked the orthopedic department and killed and injured patients there,” said plastic surgeon Dr. Ahmed Almoghrabi, who witnessed the raid. He’s since fled Gaza for Egypt; fears for his children had prompted his decision.
“I had only two options. Either they will kill us or they will detain us and both choices are very bad,” he told NBC News.
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