U.S. Trauma Surgeon Describes Gaza War Horror After Volunteering at Al-Shifa Hospital | Dr. Teresa Soldner
June 2, 2026
“The habituation to violence is unconscionable.”
Those are the words of Dr. Teresa Soldner, an American trauma surgeon who volunteered at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza and witnessed firsthand what endless war does to a population.
What struck her most was not the physical injuries.
It was the reaction of a young patient who had been shot.
When being shot becomes something a child or young person accepts as part of daily life, something has gone terribly wrong.
Operating rooms destroyed.
Medical supplies scarce.
Hospitals under attack.
And still they continue.
While politicians debate, Gaza’s healthcare workers are performing miracles under impossible conditions, saving lives in the middle of destruction and loss.
Their resilience is extraordinary.
But no society should ever be forced to become accustomed to violence.
And no child should ever learn to accept being shot as normal.
The people of Gaza deserve more than survival.
They deserve safety, dignity and peace.
Source: @theimeu
#Gaza #Palestine #AlShifaHospital #DrTeresaSoldner #HealthcareWorkers
English Script:
Theresa Soldner: The most jarring thing from the experience. My name is Theresa Soldner. I’m a general and trauma surgeon in Minnesota, and I was at Al-Shifa Hospital in April from the 14th to the 28th. The most jarring thing from the experience… The most jarring thing was waiting with the patient before we could get into the operating room. I do this all the time in the U.S.. Patients are scared. Patients are surprised. Patients are worried. Patients are fearful. And this young man was quiet and resigned. It’s not a normal reaction to being shot. And the habituation to violence that has happened to the Palestinian population is just unconscionable. The Palestinian health care establishment has been absolutely decimated, but still within it has surgeons, nurses, extremely dedicated healthcare professionals who, despite having not enough resources, will find a way to try to help the patients, and whether that’s to rebuild new ORs, or to continue to train residents in the middle of a war zone. I commend the healthcare professionals in Gaza who have done heroic, inhuman amounts of work to serve their population and bring as much healing as possible. And so, thank you for the opportunity to bring their stories today.
