I remember my last week working as a nurse at the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, in November 2023.
Israel had been attacking Gaza nonstop since October, and the hospital was overflowing with people injured by these attacks. My workload was at capacity, but I paid particular attention to Ghazal, a 4-year-old girl who came under my care.
Ghazal’s home had been attacked by Israel, and her entire family had been killed.
I was bandaging her wounds and she told me that, before the bombing, her father had left the house to buy her pajamas, a pair of shoes and a doll for her birthday.
She asked me where her father was, and I could not respond.
In fact, her father had been at the entryway of their building when he was martyred.
Ghazal was the only survivor in her family.
I suppressed all emotions at that moment and continued to treat her. When I left the room, I broke down and released all the tears that I had held back.
I thought that I would never stop crying. …..more
