Dr. Adam Hamawy, an American doctor who saved Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s life 20 years ago, is currently working in Gaza and stated that his life, along with other doctors, is at risk if they try to leave the compound where they are trapped. The doctors cannot leave the hospital compound without becoming legitimate targets, and must continue their work despite the dangers. They are part of a team of 19 health care professionals from the Palestinian American Medical Association who traveled to Gaza to provide assistance at the European Hospital in the Khan Younis area.
The doctors have been working tirelessly while hearing nighttime airstrikes near the hospital, and they continue to care for the injured and sick in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They have been blocked from leaving Gaza due to the closure of the border crossing to Egypt, and are anxiously awaiting relief by another team. The Israeli military seized the Gaza side of the Rafah border as they prepare for an offensive in the city to attack Hamas, which has raised concerns about a humanitarian crisis.
More than 35,000 people in Gaza have died in the conflict, with over a million desperate Gazans having no safe place to evacuate to. Despite being trapped in Gaza, Dr. Hamawy and his team find purpose in their work and are grateful for the ability to care for people. Sen. Duckworth has been advocating for the safe passage of the doctors to a crossing point, but there is uncertainty about when they will be able to leave. The doctors are struggling under challenging conditions and are unsure about when they will be able to return home.
Life in Gaza is described as “utterly horrible” by Dr. Hamawy, who shared the distressing conditions his family faced when they were forced to evacuate to a desert area with limited resources. He expressed gratitude that the choice has not come down to leaving Gaza without replacements to provide essential care. The doctors are hoping to be able to leave Gaza freely and want other aid workers to be allowed to come in to help. They are persevering in their work despite the uncertainty and challenges they face daily.
Dr. Hamawy played a critical role in saving Sen. Duckworth’s life, and now finds himself in a dangerous situation in Gaza. He remains committed to the mission of caring for the people in Gaza and treating the injured and sick, despite the risks involved. The doctors are trapped in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict and are urgently waiting for the borders to reopen so they can return home. They continue to work under difficult circumstances, providing essential care to those in need while hoping for a resolution that will allow them to leave safely.
