The Surgeon Who Mended Wounds: Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidum

The notion of humanity is intrinsically tied to the concept of value. Perhaps, this could be the case for every abstraction, every concept but a concept huge and assertive like humanity is primarily tied to the concept of value as kind of an enormous ‘Imagined Community’ truly exceeding one’s individual being with its scope which touches every single human whether they live now or in the past or future. With this side of the human condition, it creates, what feels like, a boundless space differently from the nationalism which confines the self, draws divisions through otherness and lock humans in different concepts abstract or concrete. As a single family flowing through time ‘humanity’ is almost like a unique concept of a seamless land of peace and prosperity that widens the imagination as much as possible.

When thought of humanity for example, justice comes to mind. Generosity, protecting children comes to mind. When humanity is mentioned, conscience and subsequently intelligence, science, religion and god comes to mind. That’s why the term of humanity expresses the effort of preserving, developing and transferring these values across time — from past to present, reaching toward the future where loads of cruel wars, barbarism and immoralities take place. Yes the history is nothing but the ironic battle and the struggle of retaining these values enabling the human existence.

Before the eyes of the whole world, with each of us witnessing, the ongoing genocide in Gaza is a direct attack on human existence and all of the values that enable this existence, like no other in history. The notion of humanity is crucial exactly for these kinds of situations. The genocidal attacks of Israel are essentially aiming for the humanity. Humanity, in other words children, innocence, women, the young, the old, compassion, conscience, intelligence, emotion, the belief, the god, a thought of what lies beyond and a hope of a tomorrow.

In this sense they defend humanity in Gaza – with children being murdered and women being butchered. The barbaric attackers leaving all of the mankind in shame especially target women and children. With this way they want to exterminate the innocence, the conscience, the morality, the love and  the hope for future that humanity rises upon. Taking it a step forward, they want to wipe out the civilized life which was formed with thousands of years old effort by destroying education, health and the city. The essential target of these demonic assaults that is founded on spoiling the crop and the generation is the human existence itself.

Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidum

Perhaps, it is healthcare and education workers who stand guard for humanity on the front lines against these barbaric attacks. This text is regarding one of that radiant souls illuminating the sky of humanity, Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidum.

Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidum was born on December 11, 1975, in Gaza. He ran through the refugee streets of Gaza, played games with refugee kids, fought, dreamed, and graduated from Al-Karmel High School in 1993. His dream was to become a doctor, and he achieved it. Right after high school, he went to Kazakhstan to pursue his medical education. After successfully completing his medical studies, he specialized in Plastic Surgery and Burn Surgery in Kazakhstan and then returned to Gaza to serve his people and humanity.

In Gaza, he started working in Shifa Hospital first and here, he pioneered the establishment of a burn treatment center in order to compensate an important need. Shortly after, he was assigned to the chairman position of that center. In Gaza, burns are one of the most common wound type because of the brutal attacks of the Israeli occupation regime happening almost routinely. Dr. Saidum witnessed lots of heart-wrenching cases in these non-stopping attacks for 25 years. But he never gave up on keeping humanity’s watch with a great passion, serving mankind and being a healer on those 25 years.

Dr. Saidum, rather than being a great burn specialist, was a diligent scientist and a teacher. He was a devoted doctor who surely makes time in his busy shifts to pass his knowledge to his students, keeping up with the scientific and technological developments and also contributing to them. Besides his work in Gaza, he would hold conferences with students and science communities from different parts of the world and have online courses with them, lead academic researches and publish his work.

Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidum was not only a successful doctor, but also a loving husband, a compassionate father, and a supportive brother and friend to his family. He had four children: 16-year-old Mahmoud, his 15-year-old twin daughters Menna and Maram, and his youngest daughter, 10-year-old Malak. Together with his wife, he had built a peaceful home where their children were raised with love and tenderness.

Dr. Saidum also had hobbies regarding different fields of medicine and healthcare. Especially, he was fond of electronic devices. According to his sister Abeer, he was not just a skilled burn surgeon devoted to his patients’ skin reconstruction but also a proficient expert in repairing various things and electronic devices.

Towards morning of September 14, 2023, he returned his home to rest a little bit in Tal Al- Hava neighborhood at Gaza city center after his 7 days long exhausting shift without any break. His house was targeted by the Israeli air strike as soon as he entered the house. As a result of this air strike, Dr. Saidum, his mother, siblings and their children was martyred. Dr. Saidum was 48 years old when he was martyred. His wife and children survived the attack with injuries.

The tragic death of Dr. Saidum is a great loss not just for his family and colleagues but also for everyone who believes in humanity, civilization and the healing power of medicine even in the darkest times. Even though his life didn’t last long, the legacy of his resilience, compassion and devoted service will continue to inspire us and young generations. May Allah grant them mercy.

I would like to thank Dr. Kateryna Saleh, journalist-author Mustafa Ekici and Sudenaz Coskun for their contributions.