In the early hours of a September morning, as bombs echoed over Gaza, Dr. Refaat Alathamna joined CNN’s Perspectives to share his story. A Bolivian-Palestinian anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, Alathamna has lived through nearly two years of war, navigating a relentless cycle of displacement, fear, and exhaustion. More than anything, he is a father of five who is trying to keep his children alive while continuing to care for his patients.

Alathamna studied medicine in Bolivia, where he lived for nearly a decade and became a citizen. Today, that same citizenship drives his plea to the Bolivian government to help him and his family escape the war. Yet, despite promises and negotiations with other countries, the doctor remains trapped in Gaza, waiting for a safe passage that has never come.

Life Under Fire

In his testimony, Alathamna described the chaos of displacement. Families are forced to leave their homes again and again, some as many as fifteen times, losing everything—houses, cars, jobs—until they have nothing left but the clothes on their backs. Streets are filled with the displaced, searching for shelter that does not exist. Eight out of ten are now living in tents, enduring conditions so harsh that survival itself feels like an open question.

Despite being a physician, Alathamna is not spared these struggles. His family has been evacuated at least ten times, moving from the south to the center of Gaza. Friends and small donations from abroad have been their lifeline, providing enough to find temporary shelter and food. He has not received a salary since the war began, and no direct support from the Bolivian government.

Between Patients and Children

The weight of his testimony lies in the tension he faces daily: How do you care for your patients when your own children go hungry?
Alathamna works double and triple shifts, treating the wounded in overcrowded hospitals. Then, like everyone else, he must scramble to find food for his family. In the middle of war, the basic act of feeding a child becomes a monumental task.

When asked about politics, the doctor distanced himself completely. “I am a neutral man,” he said firmly. His mission is clear: heal the sick, protect his children, and find a way to safety. Politics cannot heal wounds or stop bombs; medicine and compassion, however, can.

Points for Reflection

• How many lives remain unheard, overshadowed by the noise of politics and war?
• What responsibility do nations and international organizations hold toward citizens like Alathamna, who are caught between borders and bombs?
• How can we, as members of the global community, respond with solidarity rather than indifference?

A prayer

God of mercy and compassion,
we lift up the countless families suffering in Gaza.
Grant them protection in their fear,
food in their hunger, and peace in their turmoil.
Inspire leaders and nations to act with courage and humanity,
so that the cries of the innocent are not met with silence.
Turn our hearts from indifference to solidarity,
and let healing triumph over destruction,
life over death, and hope over despair.
Amen.