STOP THE BLOODSHED

Brit medic's fears for Gaza colleagues | Snapper loses 4 of 5 kids in airstrike

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

SURROUNDED by the smell of death and with missiles smashing nearby buildings to smithereens, Abdel Hammad feared for his life while trapped in the hell of Gaza.

But the heroic surgeon continued to help the sick and injured as more and more innocent civilians became caught up in Israeli bombardments.

And while the Briton managed to return to the UK after four weeks, he yesterday told how he fears other medics and patients in Gaza face death unless the bombs stop.

He also praised the extraordinary courage of staff battling to save lives while under siege. Abdel revealed medicines and electricity are in such short supply doctors have to make the agonising decision on who to save and who not.

The NHS consultant transplant surgeon spoke as an Israeli air strike hit the Al Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza, killing at least 52 people.

Among them were four of photojournalist Muhammad al-Alul's five children. The snapper for Turkish news agency Anadolu saw horrific videos of the lifeless bodies of his kids Qais, Ahmad, Rahaf, and Kenaan being pulled from under the rubble.

Medics at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital treated his surviving son Adam, one, and wife, Amnah. He lost several other relatives in the strike.

Abdel has carried out around 100 transplants in Gaza over the past 10 years - 30 on children.