"Everything that I had done in my life had led me to this point, and this is where I was meant to be."
These are the words of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, a man whose life story is as inspiring as it is incredible. When you first look at a picture of Dr. Ghassan, you see his thick black glasses and neat gray beard—the portrait of a calm and gentle man. Perhaps this calmness comes from years of working as a trauma surgeon, helping people who have been seriously injured.
Dr. Ghassan’s family was displaced from Palestine many years ago. Following in his father’s footsteps, he studied medicine at Glasgow University. Yet no matter where he studied or worked, his heart always remained with his homeland, Palestine.
Dr. Ghassan’s connection to his roots had taken him to Gaza many times before, but this time was different. Immediately after October 7, 2023, he packed his bags and left his comfortable life in the UK. He left his home, his wife and three children, and everything safe and familiar -to help people caught up in this terrible onslaught.
For 43 days, Dr. Ghassan worked in Gaza under conditions most of us could never imagine. Israel cut off electricity, water, and internet. Hospitals had to rely on generators and whatever resources were available. With aid blocked and medical supplies running out, doctors had to improvise and innovate.
The hospitals themselves were badly damaged and overcrowded—not only with patients, but also with people seeking shelter, hoping the hospitals would be safe zones. Dr. Ghassan often worked late into the night without a break. Despite constant bombardment of hospitals and their surroundings, he continued to treat whoever came to him.
He set broken bones, removed shrapnel from wounds, and stitched together severed limbs. He did everything possible to save lives. His dedication did not waver, even in moments of terror. One dreadful day, while between surgeries, he heard the screech of an incoming missile, followed by a deafening explosion. Rushing into the hallway, he saw the hospital courtyard engulfed in flames—ambulances and cars burning in a scene of horror. He quickly treated a man who was bleeding badly. Later, he walked through the courtyard and saw the lifeless bodies of many victims. This marked the beginning of horrific Israeli attacks on Gaza’s already fragile health infrastructure.
Dr. Ghassan found strength in the perseverance of the people of Gaza. He was amazed by their ability to endure and care for one another, even in the worst of times. On November 5, 2023, in the middle of heavy bombing, he messaged a friend: “I am more at peace these few days than over the last month. I am exactly where I should be and where I’ve been traveling to get to my whole life.”
The people of Gaza reminded him of the sahaba, the companions of Prophet Muhammad (saw), who showed immense courage and faith in times of hardship. In Makkah, the Muslims endured three years of boycott, driven into the desert with hunger and thirst, yet they never abandoned their faith. In Madinah, they dug the trench to defend against an army of 10,000 while tying stones to their bellies from hunger.
Like these Muslim heroes, Dr. Ghassan fought his battles in Gaza—not with weapons, but with his medical skills and his voice. When hospitals and equipment became unusable, he did not give up. Instead, he turned to social media to tell the world what was happening in Gaza. By sharing their stories, he hoped to raise awareness and help stop the killing of children, the destruction of families, and the suffering of a people who have lived under a brutal colonialist occupation for more than 75 years.
When Dr. Ghassan finally had to leave Gaza, he did not return quietly to his old life. His voice only grew stronger. He spoke out across the world about what he had witnessed in Palestine. He even ran for the presidency of his alma mater, the University of Glasgow, and won. Now as president, he continues to campaign for peace and justice—speaking in different countries, educating medical professionals about the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, and supporting a foundation for the treatment of Palestinians.
Dr. Ghassan continues to campaign for peace and justice by traveling to different countries to speak about Palestine, organizing events to educate the public and medical professionals about the ongoing Palestinian holocaust, and supporting a foundation for the medical treatment of Palestinian people.
His story echoes that of the sahaba at the Battle of Tabuk, who endured the scorching desert, hunger, and exhaustion, yet pressed forward because they believed in their cause. Dr. Ghassan did the same: leaving behind comfort to serve strangers, driven by faith and conviction.
Dr. Ghassan teaches us that being a hero is not about fearlessness—it is about having the courage to do what is right, even when it is hard. His life shows us that one person, with courage and compassion, can make a difference.
Nu‘man bin Bashir (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“The believers, in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy, are just like one body. When one limb suffers, the whole body responds with wakefulness and fever.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
