Dr. Elise Thorburn expressed astonishment at the sight of collapsed structures and extensive tent settlements upon her arrival in Gaza. She described the devastation, stating, “The buildings are stacked on top of each other like pancakes. Rafah is no longer recognizable; it’s just steel bars protruding from the ground.” Dr. Thorburn, an emergency medicine specialist, shared her experiences at a pro-Palestine gathering in St. John’s after returning to Newfoundland and Labrador from her month-long assignment in Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital’s emergency department.
Working in collaboration with Glia, a medical solidarity organization partnered with the World Health Organization, Dr. Thorburn found it challenging to depart due to the ongoing dire circumstances in Gaza. Despite a truce agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on October 9, reports of Israeli assaults in Gaza have persisted almost daily, which Dr. Thorburn criticized as violations of the ceasefire pact.
The situation in Al-Ahli Hospital was dire, with shortages of food and medical supplies hindering patient care. Dr. Thorburn highlighted the hospital’s reliance on makeshift facilities, such as tents, after its emergency and reception department was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in April.
Dr. Thorburn’s work primarily involved treating children with traumatic injuries, including blast injuries and gunshot wounds. She recounted a distressing incident where 45 individuals, many of whom were children, arrived at the hospital during a mass casualty event just before her departure.
Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Thorburn emphasized her commitment to advocating for a two-way arms embargo in Canada to hold Israel accountable for the plight of the Palestinian people. Despite the Canadian government’s claim of halting arms shipments to Israel since January 2024, discrepancies in Israeli import data raise concerns about the actual enforcement of the embargo.
While a UN inquiry confirmed allegations of genocide in Gaza by Israel, Canada’s new UN Ambassador has called for additional evidence before acknowledging these claims as factual. Dr. Thorburn expressed her desire to return to Gaza, although she voiced apprehensions about potential entry denials by Israeli authorities.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the deaths of nearly 70,000 Palestinians and over 170,800 serious injuries. The initial Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 claimed nearly 1,200 lives and led to the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Dr. Thorburn’s dedication to supporting the people of Gaza remains unwavering, as she hopes to continue her humanitarian work in the region despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.