Injured Palestinians Treated On French Warship Dixmude Off Egyptian Coast

The Dixmude, a France-based helicopter carrier, has been reportedly docked at the port of El Arish, 50 km west of the Gaza Strip, since November last year. The vessel has operating theatres, wards, and about 70 medical staff. Almost 120 injured individuals have been hospitalized on the vessel. In contrast, hundreds of others have been seen for outpatient consultations, including follow-ups on injuries and psychiatric issues, and Captain Alexandre Blonce said it was an unprecedented mission.

Israeli forces further launched an all-out war to eliminate Hamas, the Palestinian body that governs Gaza, after the fighters from the group carried out an unforeseen attack on southern Israel. Over 1,139 individuals were killed in the 7 October attack, per an Al Jazeera tally that was based on Israel’s statistics, and nearly 240 others had been seized as hostages and taken back to the enclave.

Over 25,000 individuals have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, mostly these were children and women, per the Palestinian authorities. Palestinians who are based in Gaza have struggled to receive care at home as thousands have gotten wounded, with a majority of Gaza’s 36 hospitals no longer operational and those that are functioning at far over capacity, the WHO says.

Israel has targeted the most significant remaining hospitals, mentioning that the Hamas fighters are operating there. However, this is something that the Hamas refuses to accept. Those who were lucky enough to cross into Egypt, like 16-year-old Ahmed Abu Daqqa, who got injured on 1 November, encountered prolonged waits for medical aid.

Doctors in Gaza took out the shrapnel and put in two rods, but a month later, they discovered even more shrapnel in his knee. They told him they would tackle it later as there were too many surgeries, he said on the Dixmude. Abu Daqqa shared that he tried several times to seek a transfer before finally crossing into Egypt. He was then able to go through further surgery, where the shrapnel and rods were removed, and a consequent infection was dealt with. He received physical therapy.

Along with the other travellers on the French ship, Abu Daqqa was waiting to be transferred to healthcare facilities in Egypt or overseas. In December, Italy dispatched a comparable floating hospital to the coast of Egypt.

Reference: Aljazeera

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