French hospital ship treated hundreds of injured Palestinians in two months

About a thousand Palestinians have been treated on board a French field hospital installed on a military ship that has been docked off the coast of Egypt since the end of November, and which will lift anchor at the end of the week.

French military medical personnel work onboard the LHD Dixmude ship, which serves as a hospital to treat wounded Palestinians, at the Egyptian port of Al-Arish, 21 January 2024. © Khaled Desouki/AFP

In two months, over 100 people have been hospitalised on the Dixmude helicopter carrier that has been docked in the Egyptian port of al-Arish, some 40 kilometres west of Gaza, since the end of November.

Hundreds more were treated for injuries or trauma caused by Israel’s bombing campaign on the Gaza strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October and killed over 1,200 people and took others hostage.

Hassan, 23, who had his right arm and leg amputated after a bomb hit him and his brother while they were distributing water in Gaza two months ago, says he still has trouble sleeping.

“I have continuous nightmares,” he told RFI. “I cannot forget the scene that I saw. I imagine that I am speaking again with my brother, who died a martyr. I see him talking to me before he died.”

The French ship Dixmude docked at the Egyptian port of Al-Arish on 31 December, 2023. The helicopter carrier serves as a hospital for wounded Gaza civilians that have crossed into Egypt in recent weeks with special exit permits. © AFP - Khaled Desouki

Physical and mental trauma

Aurelie, a doctor – one of 70 medical staff on board - has worked with French soldiers facing post-traumatic stress syndrome, and is a psychiatrist on board the Dixmude.

“The fact of being able to take a step away from the fighting here allows for a partial alleviation of the symptoms, but there can be flashbacks, in particular at night,” she said.

The mission to treat Palestinians in the Gaza strip whose access to healthcare has been largely cut off after months of war, is “unprecedented”, Dixmude Captain Alexandre Blonce told reporters.

Wounded Gaza civiians are pictured onboard the French ship Dixmude on 31 December, 2023. © AFP - Khaled Desouki

Health infrastructure destroyed

Gaza’s health infrastructure has collapsed with most of its 36 hospitals no longer functioning, and those remaining operating over capacity.

Israel has targeted the largest remaining hospitals, saying Hamas fighters are operating and hiding in and under them. Hamas has denied using hospitals as bases or shields.

The Dixmude is one of two of France’s three helicopter carriers mobilised to provide humanitarian and medical care to Gaza, and replaced the Tonnerre, which spent a month off the coast of Egypt providing supplies and hospital care.

The Dixmude will leave the port on Saturday, and the remaining patients on board will be treated in Egypt.

Italy sent a similar floating hospital to the Egyptian coast in December.

(with newswires)