Ontario doctor reveals physician stripped and tortured in Gaza, launches #EyeWitnessGaza campaign
Canadian doctor Ben Thomson shared a video detailing the torture of a Palestinian physician in Gaza, who was stripped naked and forced to stand in his own waste for two days. Thomson's testimony is part of the #EyeWitnessGaza campaign, urging global action against atrocities in Gaza.
On 15 August, Ontario-based doctor Ben Thomson released a video detailing his firsthand experience in the Gaza Strip during a visit in March.
Thomson recounted a shocking story about one of his patients, a fellow physician, who was tortured for two days by Israeli forces.
He refused to leave the hospital after it was bombarded by the Israeli military, staying behind to care for his patients.
The physician was stripped naked at gunpoint, forced to stand in his own urine and feces, and denied access to his diabetes medication, including insulin.
https://twitter.com/BenNephrology/status/1823766673931034963
Humiliation and Long-Term Physical Effects
Thomson explained that the Israeli military eventually allowed the physician to continue treating his patients but refused to let him wear clothes.
Soldiers reportedly laughed at him for treating patients while unclothed because the remaining patients in the hospital were children.
The two days of torture left the physician physically and emotionally scarred, resulting in a heel ulcer from prolonged standing.
#EyeWitnessGaza Campaign
Thomson's testimony is part of the #EyeWitnessGaza campaign, which he launched to bring attention to the atrocities committed in Gaza.
He testified to the International Court of Justice as part of a genocide case against Israel, stating that more health workers will soon share their stories.
On 14 August, Thomson posted a thread post on X (formerly Twitter) that 19 health workers had sent an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, and other senior politicians, demanding action.
So far, they have received no response.
Key Demands of the #EyeWitnessGaza Initiative
The #EyeWitnessGaza campaign includes six key demands:
1. Lift the blockade on Gaza to allow humanitarian aid.
2. Ensure that the World Health Organization and neutral agencies handle background checks on Emergency Medical Teams entering Gaza.
3. Allow unrestricted access to medical and surgical supplies in Gaza.
4. End the blockade on healthcare professionals of Palestinian descent.
5. Respect and comply with International Court of Justice decisions.
6. Enact a two-way arms embargo immediately.
https://twitter.com/BenNephrology/status/1823736441832411301
Documenting Atrocities: The Importance of Witness Testimonies
Thomson, who has visited Gaza multiple times for humanitarian and training purposes, has kept a detailed diary since his first visit in 2013, which has supported his interviews with legal and human rights groups.
Another Canadian doctor, Yipeng Ge, also shared his experience from a week-long visit to Gaza in February in an exclusive interview with Canada's The Breach.
He worked in two primary care clinics in Rafah and witnessed the impact of the besieged healthcare system.
Ge expressed the danger healthcare workers in Gaza face, saying, "You essentially have a target on your back simply for wearing scrubs."
Thomson and Ge’s statements are being gathered by legal groups like the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians and Forensic Architecture, with plans to present this evidence to international bodies, including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and Scotland Yard.
Testimonies from other doctors could also be used in war crimes investigations against Israel, as similar evidence has already been submitted by a British doctor earlier this year.
