‘Remember me well in the tougher times'
ONE year ago, during the last Ramadan, five physicians and a senior administrator from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), armed with their expertise, equipment, and aid, took a bold step, and risked their lives to enter the war-torn Gaza Strip and offer support to its people. The team members were uncertain whether they would return to their families safely. In March 2024, Dr. Musaed Rashid Al-Enezi, Dr. Hussein Al-Quwaian, Dr. Faisal Al-Hajri, Dr. Muhammad Jamal, Dr. Muhammad Shamsah, and senior KRCS administrator Abdulrahman Al-Saleh made the decision to enter Gaza under any circumstances, becoming the first Arab or Islamic team to do so.
Their mission was driven by their humanitarian duty, the oath they had taken, and their commitment to providing as much medical and food aid as possible to the people of Gaza. They aimed to perform the highest number of surgical operations possible, even under what could be described as the most horrific conditions in the history of warfare. The team was fully aware of the magnitude of risks involved, particularly when confronting a ruthless and immoral enemy, all while war, destruction, serious injuries, death, and hunger were growing increasingly prevalent. The team members spent four dangerous days among the wounded, injured, and those in need, providing whatever medical assistance they could .
They accomplished far more than expected, performing numerous surgeries on the cases they were able to reach. They showed the Palestinian resistance fighters, the wounded, and defenseless civilians that their brothers from Kuwait had overcome their own wounds and psychological pain, risked their lives, and entered Palestine to offer much-needed aid. Entering Gaza under those circumstances was a terrifying adventure, and completing the tasks assigned to the team was even riskier. The team was fully aware of what they were about to undertake, as it was akin to a suicide mission, especially with the looming threat of an enemy that had abandoned even the most basic moral principles and mercy. As a result, the team members signed pledges to hold no party accountable for their safety before obtaining entry permits to Gaza from the relevant authorities.
The team not only faced the risk of conducting operations under continuous bombardment, but they also succeeded in distributing numerous food baskets and First Aid kits to the residents. They carried out their mission while the sounds of bomb explosions, artillery shells, and buzzing drones deafened their ears. Despite the relentless bombardment day and night, some team members could scarcely believe they had returned from that trip unharmed. In the end, they were all deeply satisfied with what they had accomplished.
Meanwhile, some individuals from our nation mocked the Palestinian resistance, and were indifferent to the catastrophe the people of Gaza had suffered . They continued to remind us of their stance from 35 years ago in persistently supporting Israeli positions simply because they had an issue with the Palestinian resistance. I reflected on the events of that great risk, its profound humanitarian significance, and the material, medical, and moral aid it provided to the people of Gaza. I thought of the long and remarkable history of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) and the role of the chairman and members of its last elected Board of Directors. I also recalled the verse composed by the distinguished poet Abu Firas Al-Hamdani: 'My people will remember me well in hard times. The darker the night, the more the full moon is missed'. Meanwhile, I wish the best of luck to the chairman and members of KRCS's new Board of Directors.
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