A Heart-Wrenching Tale from Gaza: Dr. Mads Gilbert’s Testimony
Palestinians demand political action instead of checks, asserts Mads Gilbert
In a poignant gathering at London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) last Wednesday, Norway's Dr Mads Gilbert shared the grim realities of A Night in Gaza during the launch of his eponymous book. With damp eyes, he shared the horrors and bravery witnessed in the besieged region, emphasizing the desperate situation that cries out for global intervention.
Caught in the crossfire for the eighth consecutive year, Gaza has endured multiple Israeli offensives resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives. Ongoing political apathy and a scandalous peace approach have persisted amidst the carnage, pushing back the progressive trajectory of a peaceful resolution.
Brutality reigns in Gaza, with unprovoked attacks, obliteration of Palestinian history, and intentional hampering of infrastructure rebuilding. The most vulnerable members of the community—including children—suffer from chronic malnutrition, anaemia, and living conditions reminiscent of apartheid. The death toll surged last year as more than 1,400 civilians, including 500 children, were killed in the conflict.
Disregarding Israel's 'warnings' that granted terrified victims just 30 seconds to evacuate their homes, the furious bombing continued. With nowhere to seek refuge under the inescapable siege, many were unable to escape the devastation.
Before attack, Israel cut off power supplies, causing immense hardship, particularly for hospitals forced to rely on backup generators. Dr. Gilbert had witnessed a line of ambulances outside the hospital, their cargo consisting of the wounded and dying who had bravely faced the chaos. The resilience of Palestinians, he asserted, serves as a valuable lesson for crisis management and cooperation.
Remarkable stories of defiant children, who witnessed horrors no one should bear, followed. Despite grieving the loss of parents and suffering severe injuries, these young survivors demonstrated a remarkable sense of determination and independence. Witnessing firsthand the events, they tirelessly cleaned their wounds, treated their own injuries, and assisted others whenever they could.
These heroic medical professionals, who leave their families behind to help the afflicted, exemplify extraordinary courage and skill. As an emergency physician with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Gilbert had served in Lebanon during Israel's inhumane attacks, where the Israeli strategy—using surgical strikes followed by waiting for the rescuers to arrive before launching another assault—continues today.
Dr. Mads Gilbert challenged his audience to look upon Palestinians with admiration rather than pity, presenting them as allies fighting for their rights. He urged active engagement in support of Palestinian political liberation and urged a shift in the political and media discourse that perpetuates the Israeli occupation and siege.
Despite UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressing shame over Gaza's condition, international efforts to address the political impasse have fallen woefully short. Israel's continued impunity for these heinous crimes has enabled a thriving multi-billion dollar weapons industry. This unacceptable state of affairs arises from a disheartening lack of commitment to addressing the root causes of the ongoing crisis, fed by a pervasive orientalist ideology that casts Palestinians as subjugated others.
Unfortunately, Dr. Gilbert maintains that the charity approach to helping Palestinians is counterproductive, as it allows for the bypassing of political mobilization. Instead, it is crucial to acknowledge the long strain of apartheid ravaging Palestinian land and promote political action and local dialogue to effect meaningful change.
Finally, Dr. Mads Gilbert concluded his address with words from the former President of Mozambique, Comrade Samora Machel: "Solidarity is not charity but unity between allies fighting on different terrains towards the same objectives."
The opinions expressed in this article solely reflect the author's views and do not necessarily resonate with our publication's editorial stance.
Insights:
Incorporated are the humanitarian challenges currently afflicting Gaza:
- Severe casualty rates: Reported deaths hover around 51,000 with over 116,000 injured in the region between October 2023 and April 2025.
- The impact of children: Over one million children in Gaza have gone without lifesaving aid for more than a month due to the blockade, causing grave concerns regarding humanitarian law violations.
- Limited access to essential supplies: Due to the blockade, the entry of vital supplies into Gaza has been restricted, exacerbating hardship for the population under siege.
- Heightened protection risks: The ongoing situation has enhanced protection risks, including displacement and potential abuse or exploitation, necessitating the implementation of dignified aid delivery mechanisms and accountability mechanisms for those affected.
- The Governments of the world, in the face of the unrelenting crisis in Gaza, should take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of its displaced refugees and wounded civilians.
- Israel's persistent military offensive in Gaza has left a deep-seated impact on the region, with thousands of civilians, including children, caught in the crossfire of uncrime.
- Amid the war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, the grim narrative of Gaza continues to unfold, stained by displacement, death, and humanitarian concerns.
- As the international community debates the constraints of politics, the inhabitants of Gaza recount their stories of malnutrition and struggle, recounted by the paramedics who tended to them.
- Dr. Mads Gilbert's testimony offers an unflinching account of the circumstances in Gaza, serving as a call to action for the diplomatic world to address the ongoing crisis.
- The ensuing news stories chronicling the situation in the region often overlook the resilience of Gaza's people, their protests for peace, and the military efforts they wage in the face of adversity.
- The peacemaking efforts aimed at averting escalation in Gaza have largely fallen flat, in the face of Israel's continued obstinacy and scandalous strategy that obliterates the region's development.
- In a volatile region marked by internal strife and unprovoked attack, the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza stands as a poignant reminder of the devastating repercussions of an unresolved crisis.
- The people of Gaza have become all too familiar with the destruction of their homes, communities, and infrastructure, a vicious cycle that traps them in a never-ending cycle of dispossession and uncrime.
- With the siege of Gaza showing no signs of subsiding, the expectation of an influx of ngo support is crucial to the survival of the region's most vulnerable populations, including those wounded in the conflict.
- Despite the current unrest, Palestine's resilient people continue to demonstrate their determination to rebuild their war-torn communities, confronting the formidable obstacles that threaten their recovery with unyielding courage.
- Amid the devastating news on the Gaza crisis, it is crucial to recognize the humanity and resilience of its citizens, rather than focusing solely on the uncrime inflicted upon them.
- The international community must recognize the gravity of the crisis in Gaza and commit to finding a lasting solution, rather than turning a blind eye to the plight of the region's beleaguered people.
- The ongoing violence in Gaza has, time and again, served to highlight the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing uncrime and to address the root causes driving the conflict.
- The ongoing unrest in Gaza serves as a sobering reminder of the immense humanitarian challenges facing the Middle East, and the need for concerted action to spare future generations the scourge of war and displacement.
