On October 9, 2023, only 48 hours into the start of what would be a year of genocidal death and destruction, renowned British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah crossed into Gaza through Egypt just before the border crossing was sealed off and ultimately destroyed by Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign.

Dr. Abu-Sittah, a multi-award-winning plastic and reconstructive surgeon, was in Gaza as one of the first responders, as he has been countless times, in countless war and conflict zones. He worked for 43 days on the frontlines, carrying out lifesaving surgeries and administering crucial care as around him a population was being massacred and their healthcare system decimated.

One year later, Dr. Abu-Sittah is still on the frontlines, in Lebanon now, helping the victims of Israel’s attacks and exploding pagers. He has also spent the past year on the world stage, tirelessly and relentlessly advocating, educating and pleading for Gaza’s innocent civilians, who have endured a horror no one could have imagined would last this long.

AFF had the distinct honor of hosting Dr. Abu-Sittah on this milestone episode of The Gaza Chronicles marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the genocide. It has been a year in which he has faced and successfully overturned a European travel ban, fought off an attempt to suspend him from practicing medicine and thwarted various smear campaigns, at every turn defying attempts to silence him. And, still, he remains undeterred.

Hear Dr. Abu-Sittah tell us about his story, his experiences on the frontlines of genocide and his journey to becoming a lifelong, unwavering voice for his family’s home and people.