A Light in the Rubble: How One Doctor is Saving Lives in Gaza

This exclusive interview with Dr. Ahmad Nawaf Hajjaj reflects his experience and is published with his express permission.

In Gaza, where saving lives often feels impossible, extraordinary stories of resilience and courage rise from the ashes. Among them is the story of a young doctor who embodies the unyielding spirit of his people. At just 26 years old, Dr. Ahmad Nawaf Hajjaj, an emergency and critical care physician, has become a beacon of hope in a place where hope often feels impossible.

Ahmad’s unwavering dedication to saving lives is rooted in a deep sense of purpose and compassion. From an early age, he understood the value of life and the importance of giving back. That sense of responsibility has grown stronger with each challenge he has faced, shaping the man he is today.

“I chose medicine because saving lives is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Ahmad says. A graduate of the Islamic University of Gaza, he has channeled his passion for his community into a tireless fight against unimaginable odds. Amid war and devastation, his commitment to his people stands as a testament to the enduring power of hope and humanity.

A Childhood Anchored in Love and Home

Ahmad’s favorite childhood memory isn’t a single event but the very essence of his existence. Born through IVF after his mother’s 16-year struggle to have a child, Ahmad was a miracle deeply cherished from the start. “I was my mom’s miracle after many years of waiting,” he says, his voice filled with quiet pride and gratitude. This profound sense of being wanted has shaped his unbreakable connection to family and home.

It’s the small, simple things that bring his happiest memories to life. “My favorite food is Palestinian Maqluba. My favorite color is black, and my favorite movie is Incendies,” he shares. But for Ahmad, home is far more than flavors, colors, or moments on screen. “When I sleep on the floor, eat a meal, or even bathe in cold water, I am reminded of my room by the beach in Gaza. It never leaves my mind.”

Ahmad relaxing at the beach during happier times

He speaks fondly of family Fridays, which held a special rhythm of togetherness. “We would start the day with breakfast by the sea, watching the waves roll in. After Jumaa prayers at the mosque, we would sit as a family and talk about everything, from our week to our hopes to the small joys we had found. After lunch, I would rest and then meet friends by the beach to play cards as the evening breeze set in. Those were beautiful days.”

These memories are more than nostalgia. They are a beacon of what life should be, a reminder of the love and simplicity that define a true home. For Ahmad, they are a source of strength. In the midst of unimaginable challenges saving lives in Gaza, he holds onto these moments as proof that life can be beautiful and that, someday, it might be again.

The Reality of Saving Lives in Gaza

Ahmad’s work is a testament to the relentless challenge of saving lives in Gaza during unimaginable circumstances. “During the first 50 days of this war, I lived entirely in the hospital, working 24-hour shifts. I had just two sets of scrubs, one stained with blood. Sleep was rare, and meals were a luxury,” he recounts. “Later, when my family was displaced, I spent every other day helping them survive, finding water, charging phones, and doing whatever I could in our makeshift tent. It was a cycle of working in the hospital one day and then trying to support my family the next.”

The physical toll is staggering. Ahmad explains, “We eat one meal a day, sleep less than five hours, and continue working. Bathing isn’t an option, and sometimes I’m in the same bloodstained scrubs for days. But there is no choice. The needs are overwhelming.”

The mental and emotional strain is equally crushing. “Seriously, the conditions are indescribable,” he says. “We are forced to handle it because we have no other options. So many injured patients come to us, most of them severely injured and needing critical care. You work too much without sleeping or eating, seeing people’s reactions to their loss, and feeling the weight of their injuries. It is devastating.”

Dr. Ahmad Hajjaj describes the devastating conditions in Gaza, where limited medical resources are forcing impossible decisions. Interview conducted by Bisan Owda and featured by AJ+

Some moments leave scars that words can barely express. Ahmad recalls a 14-year-old boy placed on life support. “His father had waited 12 years for a son after having four daughters. But his injuries were beyond repair. Another wave of mass casualties arrived, and the ventilator was needed for patients with a chance of survival. I had to remove him from life support. It was devastating.”

Amid the heartbreak, Ahmad finds moments of hope that keep him going. One such moment involved a 3-year-old girl with a severe brain injury. “She came to the ER with part of her brain matter exposed. The nurses wanted to do a DNR because they didn’t believe she could survive. I refused to give up. I intubated her, placed a central line, and transfused blood. She was admitted to the ICU, and a week later, she began to recover. When they removed her ventilator, I felt like I had the whole world. That moment made all the sacrifices worth it.”

Even amidst moments of hope, the greatest challenge Ahmad faces in saving lives in Gaza is the overwhelming scale of the loss. “Sometimes, patients come in gasping for breath, and we know they cannot survive. We have no choice but to leave them and face death because we have to prioritize others. People don’t realize how often we are forced to make those decisions.”

He reflects on the enormity of the challenge, his voice carrying the weight of countless battles fought. “This genocide could destroy any health system in the world. Ours was already destroyed before this started.”

Dr. Ahmad Hajjaj and Dr. Osama Sofian Taya

A Tribute to Dr. Osama Sofian Taya

Among the many tragedies Ahmad has faced, the loss of his best friend and colleague, Dr. Osama Sofian Taya, is one that continues to weigh heavily on his heart.

“Osama and I were more than friends. We were brothers,” Ahmad says. The two shared a bond forged in their shared pursuit of excellence, studying together for exams and dreaming of completing their medical specialties in Germany. “We even studied the German language together so we could achieve that dream,” Ahmad recalls.

One moment in their friendship stands out vividly in Ahmad’s memory, a testament to Osama’s selflessness. “I was asleep when the results for our general doctor exams were announced. Osama called me and said, ‘Ahmad, wake up. You passed.’ He was so happy for me, even though he didn’t pass that time. Eventually, he passed too, and we celebrated together. That was the kind of person Osama was. He celebrated my success with a heart so selfless it felt like his own victory.”

On December 2, 2023, at just 28 years old, Osama’s life was cut tragically short. An Israeli airstrike hit the house where he lived, killing him, his entire family, and more than 140 others who were in the same building. The devastation left them under the rubble for over 100 days.

Ahmad describes Dr. Osama Sofian Taya as the embodiment of kindness and loyalty. “He was always there for me, supporting me no matter what. Losing him was like losing the best part of myself.”

If peace ever returns, Ahmad knows exactly what he will do first. “I will visit his grave. Osama deserves that honor, and I owe him that respect. I hope we will meet again in Jannah, Inshallah.”

Dr. Ahmad Hajjaj and his classmates at the Islamic
University of Gaza, which now lies in ruins

Faith and Humanity Amid Genocide

Through his faith, Ahmad continues saving lives in Gaza while holding onto hope for a better future. “My family has been displaced five times,” he says. “They live in terrible conditions, with little food and no access to proper medical care. My mother’s health has deteriorated, and I myself have suffered from dehydration, gastroenteritis, and hepatitis A.”

These are not just physical hardships but constant reminders of the fragility of survival. Yet, in the face of unimaginable suffering, Ahmad’s faith remains unshaken. “As Muslims, we believe that everything happening now is part of our destiny. We remain patient and say, ‘Alhamdulillah,’ thanks be to God.”

Even the most unyielding faith, however, cannot shield the heart from disillusionment. The relentless conflict has profoundly altered Ahmad’s view of the world. “I no longer believe in human rights or this hypocritical world,” he confesses. “Our future is threatened, and life as we knew it is gone.”

Ahmad reflects on the deeper loss that weighs heavily, the erosion of humanity itself. Trust in ideals and systems meant to protect the innocent has crumbled, leaving a fractured reality. Lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and yet Ahmad’s resilience endures. It is grounded in his unwavering commitment to his people and his belief in a higher purpose, even as the world around him falters.

Dreams of Peace and Freedom

Ahmad’s dreams are both achingly simple and profoundly universal. He envisions a future where his children can grow up free from the shadow of war and displacement, a future rooted in safety and dignity. “I want them to live in a fair world with enough food, vaccinations, and the freedom to love their homeland without fear,” he says, his words carrying the weight of countless generations yearning for peace.

While he hopes to one day travel to the United Kingdom to complete his residency and return to Gaza as a specialist, his immediate dream is heartbreakingly modest. “I just want to stop this genocide, go home, and sleep in my own bed.”

It is a wish so basic, yet so unattainable in his reality, that it echoes the shared human desire for comfort, safety, and belonging. It is a reminder of all that war takes away.

Dr. Ahmad Hajjaj providing medical treatment
to Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh

A Call to the World

Ahmad’s message is both a heartfelt plea and an expression of deep gratitude. “I thank everyone who supports us,” he says. “Please keep praying for Gaza and supporting us however you can. Our fight is not just for survival. It is for humanity.”

For Ahmad, the struggle transcends borders and reminds us of our shared humanity. “I want people to understand that we, the citizens of Gaza, do not live normal lives,” he explains. “We don’t live at all. My life is just work, brief moments of rest, and then back to work again. There is nothing in our daily routine that resembles what the rest of the world would call normal. We live only to survive.”

The unimaginable conditions he describes, constant displacement, the loss of loved ones, and the daily fight for survival, have profoundly shaped his view of humanity. “I hoped that this was just an experience, but it is not. It is genocide on all levels,” he explains. “Our lives have changed completely in a bad way. Our future is threatened. I no longer believe in human rights or this hypocritical world. Everything has changed.”

Even in the face of such profound loss, Ahmad’s faith in the strength of his people endures. “Community means everything to us in this difficult time,” he says. “Even when the conditions grow worse, knowing that people stand with us gives us hope. I thank everyone who prays for us, and I ask you to keep praying and supporting us however you can.”

For Ahmad, this fight is not just about survival but about reclaiming the humanity that war seeks to erase. His words carry the weight of a man who endures not only for himself but for his family, his patients, and the future he dreams of, a fair world where his children can grow up free from war, displacement, and fear.

Ahmad’s plea reminds us that, even in the darkest times, the bonds of humanity are the light that can guide us forward.

Ahmad and his mother in a peaceful moment before the war

A Testament to Humanity

Dr. Ahmad Nawaf Hajjaj’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of relentless adversity. Despite the unimaginable challenges of war and saving lives, he finds solace in faith and hope, drawing inspiration from the resilience of those around him.

“Most families, even after losing loved ones, have deep faith in Allah. They thank Allah for everything they have faced,” he reflects. That unwavering belief, shared by Ahmad and his community, provides a foundation for enduring the unendurable.

Hope is a fragile yet constant presence for Ahmad. “Sometimes it declines a little, but it is always there,” he says. “We know and have faith. We are doctors who help and treat our people, and hope comes from inside us. In the same department, we encourage and support each other.”

Ahmad’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength required in saving lives in Gaza. Despite unimaginable hardship, he finds solace in moments of faith, hope, and resilience. “I laughed when I received a text message from my mom telling me she was okay. That she and my family were safe,” he shares. “Just knowing they were alright brought me so much joy.”

Through his faith, his dedication to saving lives in Gaza, and the strength of the community that surrounds him, Ahmad reminds us that even in the darkest times, the bonds of humanity endure. His story challenges us to see beyond the rubble, to recognize the resilience of Gaza’s people, and to act with compassion and urgency for a brighter future.

Ahmad’s life is a beacon of light in a world too often shadowed by conflict. It is a call to honor the shared humanity that connects us all and to work toward a day when peace is more than a distant dream.

Video Source: Owda, Bisan (2023, November 23). It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Escaping South [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZEaY0Q8fTM&t=5s