A surgeon who has worked extensively in Gaza has raised alarming concerns regarding the conduct of Israeli soldiers, suggesting that their actions resemble a “game” when targeting individuals. According to him, the specific patterns of gunshot injuries observed indicate that it “almost seems like the Israeli soldiers were having target practice.”
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Consultant gastrointestinal surgeon Nick Maynard noted distinct clusters of gunshot wounds to specific body parts on consecutive days, a phenomenon he described during his appearance on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. “One day we would see predominantly gunshot wounds to the head and neck; another day, to the abdomen and chest,” he explained. The significance of these observations is underscored by Maynard’s personal experience: “Had I not seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it possible.”
With a dramatic clustering of injuries that appears too systematic to be coincidental, he stated, “It seemed as if it were almost like the Israeli soldiers were having target practice, playing a game.” He further remarked, “It was as if soldiers were saying, ‘We’re going to shoot for the head today, the abdomen tomorrow, the testicles the day after that.'” Maynard has been visiting Gaza since 2023, and he described his latest trip as the most harrowing of his experiences there.
“Each time I return, I think I’ll be prepared, but the reality is always more distressing than I anticipated,” he said. “This recent visit was no exception. I witnessed horrific injuries and mass casualties from bomb explosions and gunfire, particularly at food distribution points. There is also a frightening level of malnutrition, which is leading to numerous deaths among adults.”
He elaborated on the dire situation, saying, “I have operated on children, including newborns who were succumbing to malnutrition; the conditions were worse than I had ever expected.”
In discussing the extent of malnutrition in Gaza, Prof. Maynard pointed to a tragic reality: “People are dying from this man-made starvation imposed upon them by the Israeli government.” He noted that many of his patients suffering from severe explosive or gunshot injuries were also critically malnourished, complicating their recovery; “Many internal repairs fall apart because they don’t heal.”
During his visit, Prof. Maynard encountered heartbreaking cases, including premature newborns who were succumbing to malnutrition. “Four babies died early in my stay; they had no illnesses beyond being premature and malnourished,” he shared. “Their mothers were unable to breastfeed due to their own malnutrition, and there was no formula available for these infants—none have reached Gaza since the last ceasefire months ago.”
Describing the situation, he stated, “It is barbarism at its very worst.” He claimed that he knew doctors who had attempted to bring formula into Gaza, only to have it confiscated by Israeli authorities: “Every single carton of formula was taken away from them.”
The observations made by Prof. Maynard are corroborated by Médecins Sans Frontières, which reported that a quarter of young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened in Gaza last week were found to be malnourished, attributing this crisis to Israel’s “policy of starvation.”
According to MSF, “During screenings for children aged six months to five years, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women last week, 25% of those examined were malnourished,” warning that “rates of severe malnutrition in children under five have tripled in the last two weeks alone.”
Prof. Maynard also paid tribute to his colleagues working tirelessly in Gaza, stating, “They are mentally and physically exhausted and are starving themselves.” He remarked on the visible toll it has taken on them, stating, “I barely recognized some of the doctors and nurses I’ve known for years—they’ve lost 20 to 30 kilograms of weight.”
In response to the political climate, Maynard criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other world leaders as being complicit in the ongoing crisis. He stated, “We hear strong words from David Lammy, our Foreign Secretary, and from Keir Starmer, but they remain just words. In my view, they’re worthless. We need actions, and we’re not seeing any.” He emphasized, “My government is still supplying arms to Israel, conducting reconnaissance flights over Gaza, and hosting senior Israeli officials here in the UK. They have failed to acknowledge the ongoing genocide and multiple war crimes happening right now.”
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Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
