Gaza: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has confirmed the role of the multidisciplinary Lifeline 1 convoy that recently arrived in Gaza, which includes a specialized medical delegation, in providing medical interventions to those injured and affected by the recent Israeli aggression and improving health services that were greatly affected by the occupation’s destruction of the health sector in the Strip.
According to Qatar News Agency, Assistant Secretary-General for Relief and International Development at QRCS and head of the medical delegation Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim pointed out that the convoy includes volunteer doctors in the specialties of neurosurgery, orthopedics, hand surgery, and palliative care specialist. They began their work immediately upon their arrival at the Palestinian Ministry of Health hospitals to follow up on medical cases and prepare for surgical operations for the injured and sick. He explained that the selection of medical specialties in the convoy came at the request of the Ministry of Health in Gaza and its basic needs.
In his remarks to Qatar News Agency, Ibrahim emphasized that the work of the medical delegation will have positive and significant effects on the injured and affected, especially those with serious wounds, burns, as well as bone and nerve injuries. He noted that the medical delegation would be a window of hope for the injured and sick, and would contribute to improving health services in the Strip in light of the occupation’s targeting and destruction of hospitals during the aggression, and the great shortage of medicines and medical supplies necessary for the hospitals to operate.
He said that the Lifeline 1 convoy, which will continue its work inside the Strip for two weeks, consists of a number of doctors from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and volunteer doctors from outside the State of Qatar. It represents a part of the ongoing efforts made by QRCS to develop the health sector system in Gaza. He noted that the medical convoys are among the important and strategic projects that the QRCS is working on, as coordination is underway for a number of others in the coming period.
Regarding his assessment of the living and humanitarian situation after the delegation entered the Gaza Strip, Ibrahim described the situation as very bad and difficult. He said that what they saw of destruction and devastation in all parts of the Gaza Strip made them sad. What is there is something that the people of the Strip cannot live with, and does not provide them with any of the services that are supposed to be basic services. He noted that he saw nothing but destruction, as all sectors of life, whether health, education, or services, were targeted, as there is nothing the residents could benefit from.
He added that people in Gaza live only on the aid they receive from abroad, which is barely enough to meet their great needs, especially food, winter clothing, shelter, and heating supplies, especially in light of the closure of the crossings and the pressure exerted by the occupation on Gaza, in addition to other needs that are not simple and require more support than what is currently being provided. He warned of the danger and repercussions of the Israeli entity continuing to close the crossings and prevent the entry of aid into the Strip.
The head of the convoy highlighted the significant negative effects of the occupation’s decision to close the crossings and stop the entry of aid on the work of QRCS, as large quantities of aid were sent from the State of Qatar to Jordan, but they have not yet been brought into Gaza, and nothing can be brought in. He pointed out that the aid includes medicines for cancer patients, medical supplies, and food supplies, stressing that the closure of the crossings is dangerous if it continues for long periods, which requires QRCS to think about planning again and work on coordinating with local organizations and institutions inside the Strip to provide whatever services and aid can be supplied from inside Gaza if they exist.
He also pointed out that the focus of QRCS’s work and plans in the Gaza Strip for the next phase will be on three sectors, including shelter, health, and water, while continuing to focus on relief as well. He considered water to be one of the most destroyed sectors due to the war, to the point that most of the water stations and wells that were present in Gaza have become destroyed, and what remains of them needs to be rehabilitated or an alternative found, especially for drinking water.
Dr. Mohammad Salah Ibrahim has underscored the catastrophic state of the health sector in the Gaza Strip, revealing that most hospitals and health centers have been either completely or partially destroyed, rendering them inoperative. He emphasized the urgent need for immediate medical intervention, stressing that even if the war ceases, lives remain at risk due to the critical conditions of many patients requiring urgent treatment. Any delay in providing medical aid, he warned, would inevitably lead to further loss of life.
Speaking on how the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) assesses humanitarian needs in Gaza, Dr. Ibrahim explained that QRCS relies on multiple key approaches, including field visits, reports prepared and validated by its representative office in Gaza, and urgent response plans in coordination with international organizations.
He noted that QRCS’s field team in Gaza is in constant coordination with officials from key sectors such as health, development, shelter, and water. Through these collaborations, QRCS has identified urgent needs and developed emergency response plans tailored to the current crisis. He further highlighted that the organization is working closely with local authorities to determine the best course of intervention in the post-ceasefire phase.
Dr. Ibrahim also highlighted QRCS’s longstanding presence in Gaza, where it has been operating since 2010. He pointed out that the organization has forged strong working relationships with local and international entities and has implemented impactful projects, most notably the Specialized Surgeries Building at Al-Shifa Hospital -one of the largest and most significant healthcare initiatives undertaken by QRCS in Gaza.
Regarding QRCS’s humanitarian initiatives during the holy month of Ramadan, Dr. Ibrahim stated that, in response to the wishes of donors and supporters, the organization is prioritizing the distribution of Iftar and Suhoor meals for fasting individuals. He revealed that QRCS has already begun distributing approximately 500,000 hot meals and 110,000 food parcels to those in need.
Addressing QRCS’s response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dr. Ibrahim told QNA that the organization was among the first humanitarian institutions to act swiftly in alleviating the suffering caused by the Israeli aggression. Particularly in the health sector, QRCS launched an immediate intervention by procuring available medical supplies from the local market at the onset of the war. These essential supplies were promptly delivered to the Palestinian Ministry of Health to help address urgent medical shortages.
He stressed that QRCS has mobilized aid from multiple sources, including through the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border and other crossings via Jordan. The organization has facilitated the continuous flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food supplies, medicines, medical equipment, tents, winter relief packages, and hygiene kits. Additionally, QRCS financed the purchase of large quantities of water from Egypt and Jordan to be transported into the besieged Strip.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed his deep appreciation for the generosity of the Qatari people in supporting QRCS’s relief efforts for Gaza, acknowledging their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The head of the Lifeline 1 convoy also warned that Israel’s decision to ban the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) would have severe repercussions on humanitarian efforts in Gaza. He noted that UNRWA has been the primary provider of essential services to the population, and its suspension would trigger a major crisis, disrupting the delivery of vital assistance and worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.
In conclusion, Dr. Ibrahim expressed his satisfaction with the positive impact of Qatar’s grant to supply Gaza with large quantities of fuel. He highlighted how this initiative has significantly benefited hospitals, essential service stations, and international relief organizations operating in the Strip, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains functional amid the ongoing crisis.