I spent 43 days in Gaza’s now-destroyed hospitals. My mind is still there.

I arrived in Rafah in the early hours of October 9 and made my way to my family home in Gaza City amid intense Israeli air strikes. The next day, I walked with my cousin to al-Shifa Hospital to begin work, not realising this would be the beginning of a 43-day nightmare.

During those 43 days, I moved between hospitals, including to al-Ahli (Baptist) Hospital. Founded in 1882, this is one of the oldest hospitals in Gaza and is managed by the Anglican Church.

Israel threatened to target the facility, but doctors and other medical staff decided early on that we would not evacuate and abandon our patients.

On October 17, I was in between surgeries when I heard the screeching of an approaching missile followed by the loud, cacophonous sound of impact.