Recap — The Limits and Responsibilities of Global Health & Humanitarianism: What the Genocide in Gaza Reveals, Part 2

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Published on March 24, 2026

On Wednesday, February 25^th, the Dahdaleh Institute was joined by experts across various fields, for part 2 of a series entitled “The Limits and Responsibilities of Global Health & Humanitarianism: What the Genocide in Gaza Reveals.” The panel, Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, Dr. Ola Ziara and Professor Michael Lynk, invited the audience to witness the reality faced by Palestinians during the Israeli occupation and genocide. The panel sought to address the ongoing preventable deaths, hunger, destruction, and staggering injustice occurring, as well as highlight Palestinian resilience and everyday heroism.

Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, a senior pediatrician in Gaza and head of pediatrics and maternity in Gaza's Nasser Medical Complex, joined the panel online from Gaza. He began by sharing the horrifying impacts of the genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which are vividly seen through the current medical genocide of the health sector, including the severe destruction of medical services and infrastructure.

Dr. al-Farra discussed the destruction of hospitals, primary healthcare centers and educational institutions. One of the primary hospitals, Al-Shifaa Hospital, was the backbone of the health sector in Gaza. Being an important pillar of health in Gaza, a full-fledged plan by the Israeli forces was performed as part of the occupation to destroy it.

Next, he discussed the devastation of the occupation of children’s lives. This includes famine and hunger in Gaza, such as severe cases of malnutrition, known as kwashiorkor and marasmus. He shared various, personal stories of malnourished children who were suffering from nutrient deficiencies that caused illnesses and death. Further, the impact on Gaza’s orphanages was discussed, where over 56,000 children have become orphans and now face uncertain futures due to war-related injuries and amputations.

Subsequently, Dr. al-Farra discussed the occupation’s deliberate prevention of medical evacuations through the closure of borders, which caused the deaths of PICU and NICU patients who were awaiting permission to travel. The death of thousands of children are the heartbreaking consequences of multiple systemic and medical failures inflicted by the occupation.

Lastly, Dr. al-Farra discussed the detrimental impacts of shortage of medicines, hypothermia, and premature births – all leading to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. He also shared the implications of the occupation of about 2,700 families being erased from the civil records during the Israeli war on Gaza.

Next, Dr. Ola Ziara, a pediatrician and a global health specialist from Gaza, who now lives in Toronto, began by sharing her project in collaboration with Dr. Rachel Coghlan, rooted in amplifying the voices of exemplars of ethical and local humanitarianism.

She shared a recorded presentation of Dr. Rachel Coghlan, researcher at the Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne and practicing physiotherapist. Dr. Coghlan explained the origins of her work, in collaboration with Dr. Ziara, where they set out to explore the lived experiences of everyday Palestinians in Gaza working in different capacities during a genocide. She shared sentiments on the concept of care, which fundamentally requires that we listen to and understand a person's whole story, not just their disease, but their past, present, and future.

Dr. Ziara shared snapshots of voices from Mohammad (ICU doctor, Father), Noor (Psychologist, Mother), Hanan (High school student, food and water aid volunteer), Hadeel (Physiotherapy student), Hana (Translator and interpreter, aid volunteer), Farah (English language graduate, volunteer teacher) and Ahmed (Accountant, food and water aid volunteer); people with different backgrounds, professions, experiences and dreams for the future.

Their research asked a series of questions, including: What drives ordinary people to adapt, find purpose and stay? What is survival through starvation and wicked choices? What are the thoughts, memories and hopes that come to their mind? What is strength and resistance? What do you think about humanity, 2 years after genocide? Select reflections are included below.

In response to the question what drives ordinary people to adapt, find purpose and stay?, Ahmed stated, “Each time I survived what felt like certain death, I knew God has saved me for a reason. I believe that I have a mission to fulfill, whether it's to support my family or help others.”

In response to what is strength and resistance?, Farrah replied, “I hope people outside understand that we are not only victims. Ordinary people will rise to fill the gaps when system collapse. I wish people understood that we are resourceful, that our survival is built on creativity and love, not just suffering”

Throughout their stories, Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured the past two years of genocide, reveal that their actions and motivations exemplify what it truly means to be humanitarian and human in nature.

Lastly, Professor Michael Lynk, Former UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian territory (2016-2022) talked about the Palestinian right to health under occupation and genocide. He framed his discussion around a constructively legal representation of the various war crimes, apartheid, genocide, and violation of human rights inflicted by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He discussed the three relevant international laws, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law.

The Israeli settlements, which are the cornerstone of the Israeli occupation, are illegal under international law, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution (passed on December 23, 2016), the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998) and the Crimes Against Humanity Act (2000). Prof. Lynk begs the question; If Israeli settlements are a war crime, why is any country allowing a free trade agreement with Israel, which recognizes settlements as a part of Israel?

His last report as Special Rapporteur, issued in March 2022, concluded that Israel was committing apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territories. There is also the right to health being a fundamental human right, as demonstrated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). As such, the right to health should be fully protected in times of war and occupation.

Following the panelist’s presentations, a panel discussion was held, including questions around the purpose of International Law in fast-evolving crises and the impacts of Israeli narrative permeating the Western, dominant media. In the end, Dr. Ziara and Dr. al-Farra expressed their gratitude towards the audience, as well as the need for continued support, awareness and amplifications of Palestinian history and experiences.  

Watch the full seminar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1doGwOFkSA  

This is part two of a panel series, find the recap for part one here: Recap — Centering Palestinian Voices: Rethinking Global Health and Humanitarian Responsibility in Gaza

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