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'{{Short description|British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon}} {{Infobox person | name = Ghassan Abu-Sittah | native_name = غسان أبو ستة | native_name_lang = ar | image = | caption = | birth_name = Ghassan Salman Abu-Sittah | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}} | birth_place = [[Kuwait]] | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * [[University of Glasgow]] }} | occupation = | spouse = | children = 3 | family = | othername = Ghassan Abu Sitta | website = {{url|https://drghassanabusittah.com/}} }} '''Ghassan Soleiman Abu-Sittah''' ({{lang-ar|غسان أبو ستة}}; born 1968/1969)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Howeidy |first=Amira |date=October 24, 2023 |title='Gaza war does not compare to Syria or Yemen'|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/510913.aspx |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=Ahram Online}}</ref> is a British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He is known for his work in conflict zones and specialises in [[craniofacial surgery]], aesthetic surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, and trauma related injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upaconnect.org/about/advisors/|title=About: Advisors|website=United Palestinian Appeal|accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref> ==Early life and education== Ghassan was born in [[Kuwait]] to a Palestinian family who had left their home during [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] and become refugees in the [[Gaza Strip]]. They later moved to Egypt and the UK in the late 1980s.<ref name=":8" /> Abu-Sittah studied at the [[University of Glasgow]]<ref name=":1" /> and completed a postgraduate residency in London. He underwent three fellowships: Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery and Cleft Surgery at [[Great Ormond Street Hospital]] for Sick Kids (GOS), and Trauma Reconstruction at the [[Royal London Hospital]].<ref name="ips bio"/> == Career == Abu-Sittah first visited the [[Gaza Strip]] as a medical student during the [[First Intifada]] in 1989.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Grierson |first1=Jamie |last2=Sherwood |first2=Harriet |date=2023-10-17 |title=Surgeon treating patients in Gaza says police in London 'harassed' his family |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/17/surgeon-treating-patients-gaza-says-police-london-harassed-family |access-date=2023-11-07 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Halawa |first=Ahmed |date=2021-07-26 |title=Ghassan Abu-Sittah: A War-Zone Surgeon Sets Up a Curriculum for Conflict Medicine |url=https://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2021/07/ghassan-abu-sittah/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Al-Fanar Media |language=en-US}}</ref> He was inspired to focus on conflict medicine by [[Ang Swee Chai]].<ref name=":2" /> After graduating from university, Abu-Sittah began working for the [[National Health Service]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Michelle |date=2020-12-15 |title=The Evolution of Conflict Medicine in the Middle East - An Interview with Ghassan Abu Sittah |url=https://merip.org/2020/12/the-evolution-of-conflict-medicine-in-the-middle-east-an-interview-with-ghassan-abu-sittah/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=MERIP |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2005, Abu-Sittah helped treat victims of the [[7 July 2005 London bombings|London bombings]].<ref name=":3" /> Abu-Sittah traveled to Gaza as a member of [[Medical Aid for Palestinians]] to provide medical assistance during the [[Second Intifada]], the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|2008-2009 Gaza War]], the [[2012 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip]], the [[2014 Gaza War]], and the [[2018–2019 Gaza border protests|2018 Great March]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Wedeman |first=Ben |date=2018-05-18 |title=He's treated thousands. The surgeon who keeps returning to Gaza |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/18/middleeast/gaza-protests-surgeon-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Issa |first=Perla |date=2018-08-01 |title=INTERVIEW WITH DR. GHASSAN ABU SITTA"There Is No International Community" |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/jps/article/47/4/46/54667/INTERVIEW-WITH-DR-GHASSAN-ABU-SITTA-There-Is-No |journal=Journal of Palestine Studies |language=en |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=46–56 |doi=10.1525/jps.2018.47.4.46 |s2cid=158850801 |issn=0377-919X}}</ref> Abu-Sittah has also worked in war zones in Iraq., Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> In January 2011, Abu-Sittah joined the faculty of the [[American University of Beirut Medical Center|American University of Beirut Hospital]].<ref name=":3" /> He worked as the director of the hospital's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department from 2012 until September 2020.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> In 2015, he also co-founded and co-directed the Conflict Medicine Program at the AUB's Global Health Institute.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Abu-Sittah also provided remote assistance for surgeons working in the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-04 |title=In Gaza, hand surgery gets remote assistance from Beirut |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-surgery-idUKKCN0XV27C |access-date=2023-11-07}}</ref> In 2021, Abu-Sittah worked as a lecturer at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name=":2" /> Abu-Sittah returned to Gaza on October 9, 2023 at the onset of the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|2023 Israel-Hamas war]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Sebouai |first=Lilia |date=2023-11-27 |title='I performed six amputations in one night': London doctor recalls war horrors after 43 days in Gaza |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/gaza-hospital-surgeon-ghassan-abu-sittah-child-amputations/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> During the war, Abu-Sittah worked with [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders]] out of the [[Al-Shifa Hospital]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashraf |first=Benjamin |date=2023-10-25 |title=Until the final breath: Ghassan Abu-Sittah's oath to Gaza |url=https://www.newarab.com/features/until-final-breath-ghassan-abu-sittahs-oath-gaza |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The New Arab |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-30 |title=5 Doctors and Journalists Playing Vital Roles in Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis |url=https://en.vogue.me/culture/gaza-humanitarian-crisis-doctors-journalists/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Vogue Arabia |language=en-GB}}</ref> He has spoken to news outlets and posted updates on [[Twitter]] about the hospital and some of the patients.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dagres |first=Holly |date=2023-10-12 |title=Gaza under siege: A doctor recounts the humanitarian cost of war |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/gaza-hamas-seige-doctor/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Atlantic Council |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Gaza hospitals running out of supplies for wounded as Israel's bombardment goes on |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-palestine-israel-strikes-hamas-b2427522.html |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> On November 18, after 43 days, Abu-Sittah returned to London, where he gave a press conference discussing his experiences.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Abdul |first=Geneva |date=2023-11-27 |title=London surgeon says he saw 'massacre unfold' while working in Gaza hospitals |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/27/london-surgeon-says-saw-massacre-unfold-working-gaza-hospitals |access-date=2023-11-27 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> During the press conference, he said he treated patients suffering from [[White phosphorus munitions|white phosphorus]] burns, which the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] has denied using.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pope |first=Felix |title=Gaza surgeon used as pundit by BBC, Sky and CNN wept as he praised terror leader |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/gaza-surgeon-used-as-pundit-by-bbc-sky-and-cnn-wept-as-he-praised-terror-leader-eo6hdpb2 |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=www.thejc.com |language=en}}</ref> Abu-Sittah plans to work with [[Scotland Yard]] to share his testimony of the situation in Gaza.<ref name=":6" /> In January 2024, he travelled to [[the Hague]] to meet with [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) investigators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240108-uk-palestinian-surgeon-fights-for-justice-after-gaza-return|title=UK-Palestinian surgeon fights for 'justice' after Gaza return|website=France24|author=AFP|date=8 January 2024|accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref> Abu-Sittah was an editor and co-author of the book ''Reconstructing the War Injured Patient''.<ref name=":2" /> He is a trustee of the [[Institute for Palestine Studies]].<ref name="ips bio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/235728|title=Trustee, Senior Fellow: Ghassan Abu-Sittah|website=Institute for Palestine Studies|access-date=2023-11-07|language=en}}</ref> Abu-Sittah was elected Rector of his [[Alma Mater]], Glasgow University on 26 March, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24213251.gaza-war-surgeon-elected-rector-university-glasgow/|title=Gaza war surgeon elected rector of University of Glasgow|newspaper=The Herald|first=Gabriel|last=McKay|date=26 March 2024|accessdate=27 March 2024}}</ref> == Controversies Concerning Promoting Terrorism and Anti-Semitism == Abu-Sittah has faced significant accusations of promoting [[terrorism]] and spreading [[anti-semitism]]. In March 2024, UK Lawyers for Israel sent an open letter to Glasgow Univeristy which included a review of Abu-Sittah's public social media comments. The letter accused Abu-Sittah of being pro-terror by, among other instances, reposting "an image commemorating a leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, [[Nasser Abu Hamid]], the day after he died, holding a machine gun, dripping with blood."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uklfi.com/glasgow-university-investigating-dr-ghassan-abu-sitta-candidate-for-election-as-rectortitle=Glasgow University investigating Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, candidate for election as Rector|website=UK Lawyers for Israel|access-date=2024-03-27|language=en}}</ref> The UK Lawyers for Israel letter also accused Abu-Sittah of anti-semitism for, among other instances, re-posting "an antisemitic image featuring [[Hitler]] on one side and Israeli prime minister Netanyahu on the other side, both images smeared with blood, comparing Israel to the Nazis. The image was headed “Free Palestine (Palestinian Flag), Israel is a Nazi State”. The image compared the average pace of child killing of Hitler, at 127 children per day, to that of Netanyahu, which it put at 178 per day. In other words it implied that Israel is far worse than the Nazis. It said “Slaughter Over” for Hitler, and “Slaughter Ongoing” for Netanyahu."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uklfi.com/glasgow-university-investigating-dr-ghassan-abu-sitta-candidate-for-election-as-rector|title=Glasgow University investigating Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, candidate for election as Rector|website=UK Lawyers for Israel|access-date=2024-03-27|language=en}}</ref> This post has been interpreted by UK Lawyers for Israel as Antisemitism according to Example 10 of the [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance]] definition of Antisemitism which proscribes "Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism|title=Working definition of antisemitism|website=International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance|access-date=2024-03-27|language=en}}</ref> Since receiving UK Lawyers for Israel's letter, [[Glasgow University]] has launched an investigation into Abu-Sittah concerning his pro-terror and anti-Jewish statements.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/glasgow-university-investigating-doctor-who-praised-terrorist-pbxi49ct|title=Glasgow University investigating doctor who praised terrorist|newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle|first=Felix|last=Pope|date=20 March 2024|accessdate=27 March 2024}}</ref> Glasgow University is investigating as Abu-Sittah was running for and has since been elected [[Rector (academia)]] of the University.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24213251.gaza-war-surgeon-elected-rector-university-glasgow/|title=Gaza war surgeon elected rector of University of Glasgow|newspaper=The Herald|first=Gabriel|last=McKay|date=26 March 2024|accessdate=27 March 2024}}</ref> The UK-based, Commmittee for Accuracey in Middle East Reporting and Analysis has reported that Abu-Sitah, spoke at a ceremony for the one-year anniversary of the death of Maher Al-Yamani, the co-founder of the terrorist group, [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://camera-uk.org/2024/01/02/the-times-publishes-puff-piece-on-pro-terror-london-surgeon/|title=THE TIMES PUBLISHES PUFF-PIECE ON PRO-TERROR LONDON SURGEON.|newspaper=COMMITTEE FOR ACCURACY IN MIDDLE EAST REPORTING AND ANALYSIS|first=Adam|last=Levick|date=2 January 2024|accessdate=27 March 2024}}</ref> A video showing Abu-Sittah's emotional eulogy at the event is published on the Jewish Chronicle's website.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/gaza-surgeon-used-as-pundit-by-bbc-sky-and-cnn-wept-as-he-praised-terror-leader-eo6hdpb2|title=Gaza surgeon used as pundit by BBC, Sky and CNN wept as he praised terror leader|newspaper=Jewish Chronicle|first=Felix|last=Pope|date=1 December 2023|accessdate=27 March 2024}}</ref> == Personal life == Ghassan moved to [[Beirut]] in 2011.<ref name=":3" /> As of 2023, Abu-Sittah lives in East London with his wife Deema<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/15/gaza-ghassan-abu-sitta-recollections/|title=A doctor went to Gaza to help. What he saw there still haunts him.|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Sarah|last=Dadouch|date=15 December 2023|accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref> and three sons.<ref name=":1" /> On 16 October 2023, Abu-Sittah's family in London was questioned by [[Metropolitan Police|Met Police]] about Abu-Sittah's work in Gaza.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-17 |title=Met Police question London family of doctor in Gaza |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-67135505 |access-date=2023-11-07}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Lampert |first=Nicole |date=2023-12-02 |title=Can the media trust this doctor in Gaza? |url=https://unherd.com/2023/12/can-the-media-trust-this-doctor-in-gaza/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=UnHerd |language=en-GB}}</ref> == References == <references /> ==External links== * {{Instagram}} {{Authority control}} {{portal bar|Biography|Palestine}} {{DEFAULTSORT:abu-sittah, ghassan}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1960s births]] [[Category:21st-century British people]] [[Category:21st-century surgeons]] [[Category:Academics of Imperial College London]] [[Category:Academics of King's College London]] [[Category:Academic staff of the American University of Beirut]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]] [[Category:British paediatric surgeons]] [[Category:British plastic surgeons]] [[Category:British people of Palestinian descent]] [[Category:Imperial College Faculty of Medicine]] [[Category:Kuwaiti people of Palestinian descent]] [[Category:Médecins Sans Frontières]] [[Category:National Institute for Health and Care Research]] [[Category:Palestinian plastic surgeons]] [[Category:People of the Israel–Hamas war]] [[Category:Physicians of Great Ormond Street Hospital]] [[Category:World Health Organization officials]]'