Fikri Rofiul Haq, a volunteer medical worker with the Jakarta-based Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), witnessed Israeli attacks on the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza last week. Haq and his colleagues decided to stay with their patients despite the siege, but were eventually forced to evacuate by the Israeli military. According to Haq, Israeli forces deliberately destroyed the hospital’s working generator and killed 12 people with indiscriminate shelling.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that Israeli fire in the final hours before a truce with Hamas killed one woman and injured at least three other people. Sarbini Abdul Murad, the head of MER-C in Jakarta, called the attacks on the hospital a violation of international law and urged Indonesia to hold Israel accountable.
Despite the danger, Haq and his colleagues have no plans to permanently evacuate Gaza, as they are still providing humanitarian assistance to the wounded and displaced. They are receiving enough food and are able to purchase supplies in Khan Younis, where they are now based. They are taking stock of their situation and how they can continue to help the people of Gaza.