The man who brought to light much of the horror of on-the-ground life in Gaza now wants to share another brutal reality about the war.
It most likely isn’t over.
Mohammed Mustafa, the Perth-based doctor who shared video clips of his work as a fly-in, fly-out emergency medico in Gaza, still holds grave fears for the prospect of peace there.
A ceasefire is in effect after a 20-point agreement won support from Israel and US President Donald Trump.
Dr Mustafa said it should not be mistaken for a long-term solution.
“It’s a ceasefire not a peace plan,” he told AAP.
Central to his concerns are the lack of accountability for Israel’s military offensives, both before and after Hamas’s shock 2023 attack that began the latest, two-year war.
“It is important to understand that this peace plan does not address the conditions that led to October 7,” he said.
“It has nothing on Palestinian self-governance, the end of (Israel’s) occupation or lifting the siege.
“There’s nothing in this peace plan addressing two years of war crimes.
“My people, family, have been through a genocide by the neighbours as recognised by the UN and every major human rights organisation.
“You can’t have peace without justice and this has been the issue for 75 years of the Palestinian struggle.”
Israel categorically rejects a UN commission of inquiry finding of genocide and denies allegations of wrongdoing, justifying its actions as self-defence following Hamas’s October 7 attack that left about 1200 people dead.
Dr Mustafa, better known as Dr Mo or his Instagram handle “Beast from the Middle East”, became a global sensation by posting revealing and heartbreaking clips while working at Gazan hospitals.
From obscurity two years ago, he has gained 300,000 followers across social media and an Australian Story profile, and now wants to establish a children’s hospital in Gaza.
“We’ve got maternity and neonatal facilities ready at the border and once we get that in, we’re going to start fundraising for a children’s hospital,” he said.
Despite the ceasefire, he remains worried about the flow of aid, medicines, doctors and machinery needed to start the massive rebuild, which remains at Israel’s control.
Still, he holds more optimism than some Palestinians who remain bereft at the scale of the destruction.
“I have to be hopeful,” he said.
“Three years ago, many people didn’t understand Gaza or the occupation or the history. Now, world opinion has changed.
“The Palestinians have been able to shine a light … they have been able to do something so extraordinary, that it would be disrepectful to the dead, and the survivors, to say I don’t feel hopeful.”
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