NY Doctor Details Widespread Starvation in Gaza, Contradicting Israeli PM Claims

Firsthand Account of Starvation in Gaza

• 🩺 Dr. Ambereen Sleemi, a US-based urogynecologist, shares her firsthand experience from Gaza after spending three and a half weeks treating patients.
• 💔 She directly contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims of no starvation, stating that malnourishment was evident in her patients, particularly pregnant women, and even in the hospital staff.
• 👶 The evidence included low birth weights, decreased breastfeeding ability, increased pregnancy complications, and visible emaciation in patients.

Trauma and Medical Service Suspension

• 💥 Dr. Sleemi describes treating pregnant patients with severe injuries from bombings, including one who died from burns and shrapnel wounds while five months pregnant.
• 🏥 The hospital faced critical shortages, with clinical wound services for over 400 patients suspended due to a lack of supplies.
• ⚠️ This exacerbates the existing crisis of malnourishment and starvation, hindering the healing of a heavily traumatized population.

Addressing Israeli Claims

• 🗣️ Responding to the Israeli ambassador's assertion that food is flooding Gaza, Dr. Sleemi highlights the stark difference between official statements and the reality on the ground.
• 🧐 She notes that even children with conditions like cerebral palsy should not be starving, and that other children without pre-existing conditions are also clearly suffering from lack of nutritional food.
• 🌍 The doctor emphasizes that the widespread starvation is a direct consequence of the Israeli siege on food and supplies.

Long-Term Effects of Starvation

• 📈 Dr. Sleemi explains that reintroducing food to a starved body must be done carefully, as improper refeeding can be fatal.
• 🧠 She warns of potential long-term effects, including developmental delays in children and chronic health conditions in both children and adults who have been deprived of adequate nutrition.
• ⚠️ The current situation is an acute event on top of an already malnourished population, leading to severe insults and injuries.

Comparison to Ukraine and Safety Concerns

• 🇺🇦 While acknowledging the tragedy in Ukraine where she has also worked, Dr. Sleemi points out a key difference in Gaza: the complete lack of safe places.
• 📍 She states that being in Gaza made it evident that there is no safe zone for civilians.