Since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago, the health system has crumbled. Hospitals have been attacked, medical supply lines disrupted and many doctors have been killed in the Israeli bombardment. Other physicians have been detained.
Dr Khaled Serr is a surgeon at Nasser hospital in Gaza. He says he was arrested after his hospital was attacked by the Israeli military. Like other doctors in Gaza, he says he thinks he was held because of his job. He tells Hannah Moore he was beaten, humiliated and endured terrible conditions before he was released without charge.
Annie Kelly is the editor of the Guardian’s Rights and Freedom series. Along with Hoda Osman from Arab Reporters for Investigative journalism, she spoke to eight doctors who say they were held and tortured in Israeli prisons. She explains that the IDF says it is operating to restore security to the citizens of Israel and that it arrested people suspected of terrorist activities, and that those who were not involved in terrorist activities were released back to Gaza as soon as possible.
Annie tells Hannah what the effect of the doctors’ imprisonment has meant, not just for the medics themselves but for the healthcare system in Gaza.
