Gazan Journalists Face Critical Health Challenges Amidst Conflict
Photojournalist Mohammed al-Qahouji begins each day confronting the physical and emotional scars left by a near-fatal incident. The 40-year-old freelance photographer, whose career now involves a daily struggle with pain in his jaw, hand, and back, was severely injured in an Israeli air raid on January 7, 2024. He had been reporting on body recovery efforts in southern Gaza alongside Al Jazeera colleagues Hamza al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Abu Thuraya. As they returned to their vehicle, a military aircraft targeted their media crew, resulting in the deaths of al-Dahdouh and Abu Thuraya, and leaving al-Qahouji critically wounded.
Al-Qahouji recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "We survived and kept driving because we never imagined that journalists documenting the aftermath would themselves become targets." He added that paramedics initially believed he had died, placing him on top of al-Dahdouh's body before realizing he was still alive.
The Lingering Impact of Injury
The blast caused extensive damage to al-Qahouji's face, requiring titanium plate implants. His right hand suffered severe tendon and joint injuries, leading to the amputation of one finger. Spinal injuries have resulted in persistent numbness in his lower limbs, impeding his ability to stand or walk for extended periods. More than two years later, his visible scars are a constant reminder of the attack, and he has undergone over 25 surgeries since the incident.
Medical professionals indicate that al-Qahouji requires further reconstructive surgeries and extensive long-term rehabilitation, treatment that is currently unavailable within Gaza. While he strives to continue his work to support his family, he is acutely aware of the risk of his health deteriorating without specialized care, particularly concerning his hand and lower jaw.
Residing in a rented apartment after his original home was destroyed in a November 2023 Israeli bombing, al-Qahouji finds himself at a crossroads. He is torn between his commitment to documenting the ongoing conflict and the urgent need to leave Gaza for essential medical procedures. "I want to work again. It’s my only source of income, but my body doesn’t allow me to do what I used to," he shared. "My injuries have taken away nearly 90 percent of my ability to work. Today, my dream is simple: to receive treatment and return to the field where I spent years documenting other people’s stories."
Advocacy for Medical Evacuation
The plight of journalists like al-Qahouji prompted members of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) to organize a sit-in at their Gaza City headquarters. The demonstration called for the immediate medical evacuation of injured and ill journalists from the territory. Attendees, including numerous injured media professionals, displayed photographs of the 263 media workers reportedly killed by Israel during the conflict.
Ahed Farwana, Secretary-General of the PJS, highlighted that over 40 Palestinian journalists are currently enduring serious war-related injuries or medical conditions that necessitate treatment beyond Gaza's borders. The syndicate has submitted detailed medical files to international organizations, advocating for the journalists' evacuation and ensuring their right to return post-treatment. "The right to medical treatment is a basic human right. It should never be denied because of war, siege or movement restrictions," Farwana asserted.
The PJS has announced a series of ongoing protests and solidarity events to press for the prompt evacuation of these journalists. While the syndicate holds Israel accountable for restricting movement, it also criticizes international bodies for what it perceives as a lack of concrete action beyond issuing "statements of concern." Farwana emphasized, "The journalists documented this war from its first day, often at enormous personal risk. Today, many of them are no longer asking for anything except the chance to survive."
Battling Chronic Illness Amidst Conflict
Photojournalist Moaz al-Salhi, 34, attended the protest, relying on painkillers to manage his condition. "I want to fight for my rights. I won’t stay waiting for death," he stated quietly, acknowledging his inability to stand without medication.
Al-Salhi was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease in 2022 and was scheduled to begin biological treatment in Israel in October 2023, just as the war commenced. This turn of events left him without crucial treatment, plunging him into a cycle of medical emergencies. His phone contains numerous photographs and medical reports detailing frequent hospital admissions. His condition often deteriorates weekly, leading to unconsciousness and urgent hospitalization.
"I keep trying to resist the disease so I can continue working, but every time I think I’m getting better, I collapse again," al-Salhi explained. He now carries medication alongside his camera gear, though sometimes their roles reverse, and he becomes the subject of the story. "There were days when I covered stories with an IV cannula still in my hand. I was exhausted, but I wanted to keep telling people’s stories," he recalled. "Now, I have become the story. I’m the one who needs treatment."
The disease has visibly impacted al-Salhi, causing significant weight loss and progressive weakening. His greatest fear, shared by his family, is that his condition will become irreversible if he remains trapped in Gaza without access to specialized care. "My family is terrified that one day my body simply won’t be able to take any more," the father of two expressed. "I don’t want to reach that stage."
The Obstacles to Treatment
For al-Salhi, leaving Gaza is now imperative to prevent his body from complete collapse. "I don’t want anything extraordinary," he said. "I just want the chance to receive treatment, return to my family and go back to doing the work I love." However, like many other injured or critically ill patients in Gaza, he faces significant barriers to accessing life-saving treatment abroad.
The ongoing siege on Gaza has severely restricted movement in and out of the territory, leaving those in urgent need of medical attention stranded. Concurrently, the systematic damage to healthcare facilities has rendered many local treatments impossible. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 18,500 patients in Gaza require urgent medical evacuation for specialized care unavailable within the region. Since the conflict began, only a small fraction of these individuals have been able to leave through a limited medical evacuation process, leaving thousands more on waiting lists.
The Rafah crossing, a primary route for patients seeking treatment outside Gaza, has been opened only partially and intermittently by Israel, allowing a restricted number of sick Palestinians and their companions to travel for treatment in Egypt or other nations. Aid organizations have consistently warned that these movement restrictions are delaying access to critical care for patients with severe injuries, chronic illnesses, and conditions requiring specialized expertise not found in Gaza.
Source: Original Article
