Palestine
We remain firmly connected to Palestine, as its communities and medical professionals face significant challenge. As conflict intensified and a humanitarian crisis unfolded in Gaza following events in October 2023, hospitals are overwhelmed with thousands of injured patients, medical resources are scarce and healthcare workers are under severe strain.
Our bond with Palestine runs deep and we uphold an unwavering commitment to the territory’s medical professionals working under extraordinary circumstances.
Frontline surgical courses
In March 2017, we ran our first hostile environment surgical training (HEST) course in the city of Ramallah, setting the foundation for a lasting partnership. We returned to the city in July 2022, upskilling 34 surgeons from across the region during another HEST course, in partnership with Juzoor.
Recognising the difficulties in training doctors in Palestine as attacks persist, we rapidly delivered two emergency HEST and HEST-A UK courses tailored for doctors preparing to travel to Gaza. Over 70 surgeons and anaesthetists from the UK, Sweden, Norway, Germany and beyond were upskilled to manage trauma injuries.
In April, we upskilled a further 36 surgeons and 12 Kuwaiti anaesthetists with intentions to volunteer their skills in Palestine.
Our commitment to providing critical training remains unyielding. As soon as safe passage emerges, we will deliver our training in Gaza.
“We are living in a big prison. Our people should be exposed to the world. We are very happy and thankful to the David Nott Foundation, to come and see what we are doing, to understand our situation and see it in their eyes.”
Dr Mariam Aweidah, West Bank
Palestine stories
October 7th: A catalyst for unrelenting crisis and the fight to save lives
October 7th is a day that remains seared into our collective memory—a…
7 October 2024
“If this training can work in Gaza, it can work anywhere else.”
Dr Israar Ul-Haq joined our HEST-UK (Hostile Environment Surgical…
16 May 2024
The anaesthetist in a war zone
It takes a team to save a life in a war zone. Recognising the vital…
14 May 2024
Preparing 36 Kuwaiti doctors for surgery in Gaza
With support from the Foreign Common Development Office (FCDO) and…
22 April 2024
“The patients. The families. They’re all in my head.”
Our Co-Founder David Nott recently travelled to Rafah, Gaza, to help…
22 April 2024
Bearing witness to the medical needs in Gaza
Our Medical Director Dr Ammar Darwish embarked on an operating…
15 April 2024
Our second mission for Palestine’s medical workforce
In the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, tens of thousands have lost…
14 February 2024
Doctors rapidly trained to treat trauma injuries in Gaza
During a remarkable four-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training…
15 December 2023
Our action in response to the Israel-Gaza war
As a humanitarian organisation delivering surgical training to…
31 October 2023