An Urgent Medical Appeal to Save Gaza
We write to you today as a dedicated group of doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers representing nineteen countries globally. Together, we serve in forty-eight specialized medical committees and subcommittees, driven by a shared commitment to humanitarian relief through our work with the American nonprofit organization Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF). For three decades, PCRF has stood as a beacon of hope, tirelessly working to alleviate the suffering of children and families in Gaza.
As volunteers with PCRF, we have led numerous medical missions, provided vital training to local healthcare providers, and worked tirelessly in every hospital in the Gaza Strip. We have treated thousands of children, strengthened hospital infrastructure, including the establishment of the first and only pediatric oncology department, and facilitated the free care of hundreds of injured children abroad. We are horrified by the deaths and injuries impacting innocent children and their families since October 7th, 2023, and today we stand before you as concerned citizens and members of PCRF's Medical Advisory Board, urging all governments and compassionate individuals worldwide to take urgent action to save the lives of countless innocent children and their families in Gaza. We appeal to the world’s conscience for immediate action as follows:
- Immediate opening of Rafah crossing to allow our colleagues, Dr. Barbara Zind and Ramona Okumura from the USA, and other dedicated international aid workers, to safely exit Gaza.
- Swift establishment of a safeguarded humanitarian corridor as requested by the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate the delivery of vital health and humanitarian supplies to Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, half of whom are children.
- Unrestricted access for international medical personnel to provide essential humanitarian aid within Gaza's hospitals.
- Recognition that Gaza's hospitals must have power for life-saving equipment in operating theaters, intensive care units, and other critical services.
- Urgent evacuation of critically injured civilians who need advanced care from Gaza for treatment elsewhere.
We implore the global community to leverage its influence and power in support of increased humanitarian aid for Gaza and to secure a protected humanitarian corridor. We appeal to the collective humanity of the world to halt the devastating bombings of innocent civilians. May compassion and urgency guide our collective actions toward a future of peace and healing for the people of Gaza.
Respectfully,
The Medical Advisory Board PCRF
Dr. Abdul Hamid Omer Pediatric Neurologist Orlando, FL
Dr. Abdelrahman Elnaggar Cardiac Surgeon
Penn State, PA
Dr. Abdulrahman Marridi Hand Surgeon
Ramallah, Palestine
Dr. Adil Husain
Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Salt Lake City, Utah
Dr. Ahmad Khaldi Neurosurgeon Atlanta, GA
Dr. Ahmad Y. Sheikh Cardiac Surgeon
San Francisco, CA
Dr. Aleem Siddique Cardiac Surgeon Omaha, NE
Dr. Alistair Cranston Pediatric Anesthesiologist Birmingham, UK
Dr. Alan Kerr
Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Auckland, New Zealand
Dr. Alexander Zouros Pediatric Neurosurgeon Boise, ID
Dr. Alexandre Karsenti Vascular Surgeon France
Dr. Ali Anaim
Podiatrist Philadelphia, PA
Ms. Amber Ishitani Angiography Technologist Portland, OR
Dr. Amjad Syed Cardiac Surgeon Indianapolis, IN
Dr. Ana Catarina Delgado Ophthalmic Surgeon Brazil
Dr. Andrea Carobbi General Surgery Lucca, Italy
Dr. Angela Hanna Pediatric Surgeon Nebraska
Dr. Angelo Stefanini Public Health Bologna, Italy
Dr. Anna Vergun
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Chapel Hill, NC
Dr. Anne-Ashley Compton Dental Surgeon
Chicago, IL
Dr. Asan Rafee Hand Surgeon Manchester, UK
Dr. Asid Khan
Dental Surgeon Glascow, Scotland, UK
Dr. Asma Taha
Prof of Nursing / Ped ICU
Portland Oregon
Dr. Atif Zaheer Interventional Radiologist Baltimore, MD
Dr. Ayman Eissa Anesthesia/Pain Medication Sheffield, UK
Dr. Baddr Shakhsheer Pediatric Surgeon Saint Louis, Missouri
Dr. Babulal Sethia (retired) Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon London, UK
Dr. Benjamin Miller Orthopedic Oncologist Iowa City, IA
Dr. Besh Barcega Pediatric Emergency Med Loma Linda, CA
Dr. Bilal Siab Dental Surgeon Raleigh, NC
Dr. Brandon Kirkland Pediatric Intensivist Salt Lake City, UT
Dr. Burak Ozgur Neurosurgeon Newport, CA
Dr. Bradley Erickson Urologic Surgeon Des Moine, IW
Dr. Bruno Murzi Pediatric Cardiologist Massa, Italy
Dr. Cathy Woodward Pediatric Nurse Practitioner San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Charles Johnston Orthopedic Surgeon Dallas, TX
Dr. Christiana Savvidou Hand Surgeon
Dubai, UAE
Dr. Christoph Denantes Anesthesiologist
Paris, France
Dr. Christophe Oberlin Hand Surgeon
Paris, France
Dr. Colleen Kraft Pediatrician California
Dr. Corey Gill
Ped Orthopedic Surgeon Dallas, Texas
Dr. Daichi Morioka
Plastic & Reconst. Surgeon Tokyo, Japan
Dr. Daniel de Wolf Pediatric Cardiologist Brussels, Belgium
Dr. Daniele Eliseo Dondossola Milan, Italy
Dr. David Buckley
Ped Intensivist/ Anes Auckland, New Zealand
Dr. David McRay Internal Medicine Murfreesboro, TN
Dr. Diana Marin Pediatric Radiologist New York, NY
Dr. Dominique Metras Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Marseille, France
Dr. Dominique Le Nen Hand Surgeon
Brest, France
Dr. Eitanne Brain Oncologist Saint-Cloud, France
Dr. Eloisa Franchi General Surgeon Milan, Italy
Dr. Eman Ansari Pediatric Intensivist Boston, MA
Dr. Enrico Robotti
Plastic & Reconst Surgeon Bergamo, Italy
Dr. Fabio Panetta Anesthesia/Intensivist Florence, Italy
Dr. Faris Abushaaban Orthopedic Surgeon Doha, Qatar
Dr. Faris Al-Mousily Pediatric Cardiologist Orlando, FL
Dr. Fayyaz Hashmi Cardiac Surgeon Baltimore, MD
Dr. Fiore Iorio
Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon (retired)
Rome, Italy
Dr. Fozia Saleem-Rasheed Neonatologist
Royal Oak, MI
Dr. Francesco Santoro Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Genoa, Italy
Dr. Francis Nathan Ophthalmic Surgeon Adelaide, Australia
Dr. Frederick Boop Pediatric Neurosurgeon Memphis, TN
Dr. Gavin Orr Ophthalmic Surgeon United Kingdom
Dr. Germán Ávalos Guerra Anesthesiologist
Santiago, Chile
Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah Plastic & Reconst Surgeon London, UK
Dr. Giulia Dagliana Clinical Risk Management Tuscany, Italy
Dr. Greg Shay
Pediatric Pulmonologist Oakland, CA
Dr. Gregory Stocks Orthopedic Surgeon Houston, Texas
Dr. Guido Van Nooten Candiac Surgeon Brussels, Belgium
Dr. Hamzah Khalaf Ophthalmic Surgeon San Antonio, TX
Dr. Harnoon Patel Pediatric Surgeon & Urologist
Houston, Texas
Dr. Hassan Ismail Anesthesiologist Jerusalem
Dr. Hassan Tehrani Cardiac Surgeon Spokane, WA
Dr. Hatem Khamash Neonatologist Jerusalem, Palestine
Dr. Helai Ghani Pediatrician Washington, DC
Dr. Hisham Ammous Plastic & Reconst Surgeon Jerusalem
Dr. Hugh Watts Orthopedic Surgeon Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Husam M.Y. Basheer Hand Surgeon
Kuwait
Dr. Hussein Abu Khudair Anesthesiologist Amman, Jordan
Dr. Ihab Halawiesh Pediatric Surgeon Columbus, OH
Dr. Imad Tabry Cardiac Surgeon Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Imad Tamimi Maxillofacial Surgeon Clifton, NJ
Dr. Ismail Mehr Anesthesiologist New York, NY
Dr. Jafar Abunasser Critical Care Physician: Cleveland, OH
Ms. Jayme Mahler Angiography Technician Portland, OR
Dr. James Kyser Pediatric Cardiology Portland, Oregon
Dr. Jay Fricker Pediatric Cardiologist Jacksonville, FL
Dr. Joel DeCastro Urologist
New York City, NY
Dr. Johannes Kuttenberger Maxillofacial Surgeon Switzerland
Dr. John Beca
Ped Intensivist/Anesthesia Auckland, New Zealand
Dr. John Birch
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Dallas, TX
Dr. Jose Antonio Sepulveda Cuevas
Pediatric Urologist
Chile
Dr. Jose Monsivais Hand Surgeon
El Paso, TX
Dr. Katrien Francois Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Ghent, Belgium
Dr. Kevin Healy Anesthesiologist Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Khalil Qato Vascular Surgeon New York, NY
Dr. Khalique Zahir Plastic/ Reconst Surgeon Washington, DC
Dr. Laura Badwan Pediatrician Atlanta, GA
Dr. Lissa Baird Pediatric Neurosurgeon Boston, MA
Dr. Macarena Morales Oral Surgeon Santiago, Chile
Dr. Maher Shahroor Neonatologist Toronto, Canada
Dr. Mahmoud Shubair Pediatric Oncologist Gaza, Palestine
Dr. Maria de los Ángeles Maxillofacial Surgeon Chile
Dr. Marc Sinclair
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Dubai, UAE
Dr. Marcelo Souza Orthopedic Oncologist Pernambuco, Brazil
Dr. Mark Asplund Vascular Surgeon Wausau, WI
Dr. Mark Reed Pediatric Anesthesia Seattle, WA
Dr. Massimiliano Ciantell Neonatology
Pisa, Italy
Dr. Mazen Bedri
Plastic & Reconst Surgeon Livingston, NJ
Dr. Mhoira Leng Internal Medicine Scotland
Dr. Mike Absalon Pediatric Oncologist Portland, OR
Dr. Mike Cooper Pediatric Cardiologist Oakland, CA
Dr. Mohammed Elfranji Pediatric Surgeon
Gaza City
Dr. Mohammad Khalil Podiatrist
Michigan
Dr. Mohammed Said Urologic Surgeon Louisville, KY
Dr. Mohammad Shatat Critical Care Physician Cleveland, OH
Dr. Mohammed Najajreh Pediatric Oncologist Bethlehem, Palestine
Dr. Natasha Forster
Plastic & Reconst Surgeon Zurich, Switzerland
Dr. Nathan Novotny Pediatric Surgeon Michigan
Dr. Nassem Sulayman Pediatric Critical Care Physician
Urbana, IL
Dr. Nedaa Skeik Vascular Surgeon Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Ngoc Bui, MD Pediatric EM Loma Linda, CA
Dr. Nisreen Rumman Pediatric Pulmonologist Jerusalem
Dr. Noor Al-Khori Pediatric Radiology Doha, Qatar
Dr. Noor Al-Lamee Emergency Medicine London, UK
Dr. Noor Bilbeisi Dental Surgeon Oakland, CA
Dr. Omar Ozgur Ophthalmic Surgeon San Diego, CA
Dr. Othman Shibly Dental Surgeon Buffalo, NY
Dr. Paul Holtrop Neonatologist (retired) Royal Oak, MI
Dr. Quentin Qassemyar Maxillofacial Surgeon Paris, France
Dr. Rachel Coghlan Palliative Care Australia
Dr. Ra-id Abdulla Pediatric Cardiologist
Chicago, IL
Dr. Rami Alzebdeh Critical Care Physician Ann Arbor, MI
Rana Mahmoud Emergency Dept RN Thonotosassa, FL
Dr. Rand Askalan Pediatric Neurologist Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Rebecca Bahadori Pediatric Psychiatrist Frankfurt, Germany
Dr. Ricardo Yañez Pediatric Urologist Conception, Chile
Dr. Rita Conigliaro Gastroenterologist and Digestive Endoscopic Surgeon Modena, Italy
Dr. Rola Shaheen Radiology Ontario, Canada
Dr. Rula Awwad Pediatric Cardiologist Bethlehem, Palestine
Dr. Salman Dasti Anesthesiologist San Francisco, CA
Dr. Sahar Alrayyes Pediatric Dental Surgeon: Chicago, IL
Dr. Samer Elbabaa Pediatric Neurosurgeon Orlando, FL
Dr. Samir Abdo Anesthesiologist Chicago, IL
Ms. Sarah Hilderbrand Registered Nurse Portland, OR
Dr. Scott Oishi Hand Surgeon: Dallas, TX
Dr. Scott Otallah Pediatric Neurologist Winston Salem, NC
Dr. Sharon Norman Critical Care, PICU Portland, OR
Sobhi Soboh Prosthetist Germany/Hungary
Dr. Vincenzo Stefano Luisi Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Tuscany, Italy
Dr. Stefano Spinelli Emergency Medicine Tuscany, Italy
Dr. Srinivas Iyengar Orthoplastic Surgeon San Diego, CA
Dr. Suha Ghoul Oncology Radiology Ammon, Jordan
Dr. Sulaiman Hasan Cardiac Surgeon Albany, NY
Dr. Tariq Nayfeh Orthopedic Surgeon Baltimore, MD
Dr. Theirry Bove Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Ghent, Belgium
Dr. Tim Keenan Arthroscopic Surgeon Perth, Australia
Dr. Tom Bailey (Retired) Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Savanna, GA
Dr. Yaser Wafai Anesthesiologist Chicago, IL
Dr. Yasin Daoud Ophthalmic Surgeon Baltimore, MD
Dr. Victor Hernandez Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon San Antonio, TX
Dr. Wajid Khan Critical Care Physician Melbourne, Australia
Dr. Walid Adham Radiologist (retired) Houston, TX
Dr. Walid Ayad Maxillofacial Surgeon Germany
Dr. Walid Yassir Orthopedic Surgeon Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Yassine Kanaan Radiologist
Dallas, TX