Trinity College Dublin, one of Ireland’s most prestigious universities, hosted the launch of the English edition of “A Surgeon’s Diary in Gaza: A Testimony to Genocide” on Tuesday, 23 September. The event was organised by the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe – Ireland Branch (PalMed Ireland) in collaboration with the European Medical Professionals Association (EMPA).
The launch was part of a series of activities organised by PalMed Ireland to condemn the repeated attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Gaza by the occupying forces, as explained by Dr Mahmoud Abu Marzouk, Chair of the PalMed Ireland Founding Committee.
The event was attended by representatives of Irish political parties, social and healthcare organisations, as well as a large audience of Irish citizens showing strong solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Representing EMPA in Ireland, Dr Abdel Baset Al-Sayyed spoke about the organisation’s mission and its efforts to support the Palestinian health sector and advocate for the rights of healthcare workers. Dr Andy, a GP with Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine (IHCW4P), also addressed the audience, reaffirming the Irish medical community’s commitment to standing alongside their colleagues in Gaza.
The programme was skilfully moderated by Rebecca O’Keeffe (MPhil, Trinity College Dublin), a researcher pursuing a PhD on peace studies in the Middle East. The speeches shared powerful, first-hand stories of the suffering endured by Palestinian patients, medical staff, and civilians in Gaza. One of the most impactful moments came from Dr Ahmed Habib, whose deeply moving address resonated strongly with the audience.
The event included a lively Q&A session, allowing attendees to share their thoughts and engage directly with the speakers. The large turnout reflected the growing public interest and solidarity within Irish society towards Palestine.
Among the distinguished guests were the Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland and his wife, alongside many Palestinian doctors working within the Irish healthcare system. The event concluded with great success — over 140 copies of the book were sold immediately after the launch.
