Warning: This story contains details that may disturb some people.
A retired cardiac surgeon who operated on babies and children in Gaza says what young people are facing there amounts to "outright cruelty".
Alan Kerr spent close to two decades volunteering as a surgeon and training local specialists at Al Shifa Hospital and other facilities.
Kerr spent countless hours dedicating himself to some of the world's most vulnerable.
"It's catastrophic for us of course. We're just extremely saddened by what's been going on," Kerr told Newshub.
Since 2001, Kerr has saved hundreds of babies with heart defects.
"I personally operated on about 800," he said.
He's made more than 40 trips to Gaza and his last visit was in 2018. Over the years, he became close with many families.
"I don't know what's happened to those people," Kerr said.
"It's very frustrating not knowing what's happened to them."
His biggest concern is the children of Gaza. The average age of people living in the enclave is 18.
"I think this is just outright appalling to me - for kids to be facing this kind of problem.
"The kids there have nightmares, bed-wetting, some of them lose their hair, some of them are deafened by the blasts," he explained.
Alan's wife, Hazel, helped children deafened by war. She taught them to dance, make dolls and to just live as normal of a life as possible.
"I spent some time with kids down at the beach teaching children to play, which sounds ridiculous," Hazel said. "Just to have fun on the beach, making faces with shells and seaweed."
She wonders what's become of the babies her husband saved.
"You wonder who's alive, it wakes me up at night."
One of the hospitals Alan worked at was Al Shifa, where Israel claims Hamas has a command centre in underground tunnels. Kerr thinks the siege on the hospital is unjustified.
"It's just absolutely appalling," Kerr said. "I think even if they did suspect there were command centres underneath it, I think it is inexcusable."
Kerr's message for those circling and entering the hospital is to "get out of it".
At the same time, he wants Hamas militants to release hostages.
Amid the standoff, Kerr still believes a solution to end the crisis is possible.
"They live in hope of a better world."
Alan Kerr volunteered with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund while working in Gaza between 2001 and 2018 and continues to have an advisory role on the PCRF Board.
