The concept of the “war biosphere,” emerges from the recognition that the duration and brutality of wars, along with their associated crimes, create a lasting impact on the affected regions creating a ‘biosphere' that inhabitants are bound to for decades. The ongoing war in Gaza stands as one of the cruelest wars in history, surpassing even the violence witnessed during World War II. Within this war biosphere, tools and methods emerge to both reconfigure the health of the inhabitants and perpetuate harm against them.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Gaza's al-Shifa hospital, again, on March 18, placing it and the surrounding area of the complex under a complete siege. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza, has been serving as a shelter for an estimated 30,000 displaced individuals, wounded patients, and staff.

On the eve of the sixth month of Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) ended their two-week siege of Al-Shifa Hospital. The once-beating heart of Gaza's medical infrastructure was burned to a crisp. Hundreds of Palestinians were massacred in the hospital complex that once housed over 30,000 displaced people and treated thousands of patients.

Editor’s note: We interviewed Dr. Ali Elaydi twice, once on May 18 after his first medical mission to Gaza in April, and the second time on June 17 after he was denied entry to Gaza while embarking on the second medical mission to Gaza.