American Surgeon volunteers in Khan Younis hospital, Gaza

Dr. Mark Perlmutter has recently engaged in significant volunteering activities, specifically in Gaza, through the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA). In April and May 2024, Dr. Perlmutter, alongside a team of international doctors, volunteered at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. The mission involved treating a substantial number of children with severe injuries, including gunshot wounds to the head and heart, amidst the ongoing conflict. Dr. Perlmutter and his colleagues faced extreme conditions, with the hospital operating at over 359% capacity and many patients having to be treated in makeshift spaces due to the destruction of other medical facilities. Their accounts highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis, with descriptions of the overcrowded and under-resourced hospital environment, and the profound impact of the conflict on the civilian population, particularly children.