British Doctor Describes Harrowing Civilian Suffering as Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

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A British doctor returning from Gaza has described scenes of extreme suffering, alleging that a drone targeted her colleague’s family and warning of widespread starvation among civilians. 

Dr. Nada Al Hadithy, who recently spent three weeks in the region, spoke to Sky News about the worsening humanitarian situation and the toll on both patients and medical workers.

Dr. Al Hadithy claimed one of her colleagues, described as “patient, joyful and hardworking,” was followed home by a quadcopter drone. According to eyewitness accounts from fellow medics, the drone waited until he had returned to his tent and greeted his three children before striking, killing all of them.

She also treated a 21-year-old pregnant woman who had suffered horrific injuries after being caught in a bombing. “Her husband was killed, she lost her eye, she had an open fracture, and both her legs were completely destroyed from the bomb blast,” Dr Al Hadithy said. Malnourished and lacking medical care, the woman later lost her baby.

The doctor described the overall situation in Gaza as “absolutely desperate”, noting the growing impact of starvation and deteriorating health conditions. “Even the severity and relentlessness of the bombings was worse,” she added. “It was mass casualty after mass casualty, with people being blown up in their tents, which were meant to be in green zones.”

She reported seeing “emaciated children” and said Gaza’s two million residents were trapped in an area roughly the size of Exeter, which has a population of around 130,000. “That’s two million people with no water, no sanitation, no food, no medical supplies,” she said, adding that even health workers were starving. “Never before have I seen such dignified, committed people.”

Her account comes shortly after former U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited a food distribution site in Rafah, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Witkoff said he spent over five hours in Gaza to better understand the crisis and help develop a plan for aid delivery.

Aid efforts, however, have faced violent disruption. According to eyewitnesses, health officials and the United Nations human rights office, hundreds have been killed since May while attempting to reach aid distribution points. Israel’s military claims it has only used warning fire, while GHF has stated its armed contractors also use warning shots to prevent deadly crowding.

The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Israel and abducted 251. Of those, roughly 50 remain captive, with 20 believed to be alive. Israel’s military campaign has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Dr. Al Hadithy’s testimony adds to mounting concern over the civilian toll. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.