(NewsNation) — Humanitarian groups are struggling to get lifesaving aid to the hospitals in Gaza as continued attacks kill civilians every day.
Palestinian-American critical care physician Dr. Mohamad Abdelfattah joined “Morning in America” on Sunday to detail the extent of the crisis.
“It’s overwhelmingly children. Children there are fraught with severe explosive injuries, have had their limbs amputated due to the severe injuries, shrapnel all over their bodies, there are severe burns in these children, on their torsos, their back their arms, their hair is burned, you can’t even recognize their faces,” Abdelfattah said.
The ER doctor, who recently returned to America from a rotation in Gaza, says hospitals there are facing a severe shortage of even the most basic supplies.
“We didn’t have bandages to wrap wounds and we’re running out of normal saline, basic IV fluid to resuscitate patients, and so, the ER is just chaotic,” Abdelfattah said. “You’re doing whatever you can to stabilize a patient with very, very limited resources, and they’re just a constant influx of patients.”
The United Nations’ top court ordered Israel on Friday to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire for the enclave. Although Israel is unlikely to comply with the order, it will ratchet up the pressure on the increasingly isolated country.
“They are suffering in every possible way from this conflict. There’s no food, there’s no water, there’s no medication, there’s no schooling, they haven’t been to school in seven months,” Abdelfattah said of the Palestinians in Gaza. “They have no routine in their lives. They’re just wandering throughout the hospital trying to go about their lives. Meanwhile, there’s bombs. There’s drones flying overhead nonstop.”
Criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza has been growing, particularly since it turned its focus to Rafah. This week alone, three European countries announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor for another international court requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, along with Hamas officials.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to send weapons to Israel despite ramping up criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abdelfattah says President Joe Biden has the power to stop this war with one call.
“This is an American war. These are American weapons that are being dropped on these kids. And our American president, President Biden, has the ability to stop this with one phone call. And unfortunately, he will not,” Abdelfattah said.
“He continues to send weapons to Israel. He continues to defend Israel from any international criticism,” he added. “Our tax dollars are paying for this war.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
