Welsh doctor trapped in Gaza tells of 'terror' for family

Palestinians search for victims and survivors in the rubble of a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

A Welsh doctor trapped in Gaza has told how his cousin was "murdered with her whole family", including five children.

"Literally every hour we hear a family has been killed," he said.

After moving five times with his wife and three children, as bombs destroyed where they were staying, he said they feel "left alone" by the government.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said its officials were in "close contact" with British nationals in Gaza.

The doctor, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of being targeted, waited with his family for three days at the Rafah crossing trying to escape, but bombs continued to fall and there was no way out.

He said he was "terrified" they would be killed before they manage to escape.

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Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw at least 239 people kidnapped as hostages.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said more than 8,000 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began.

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The doctor and his family arrived in Gaza three days before the attacks. When the crossing border was closed, they became "trapped".

Speaking to BBC Wales on the phone, he said the noise in the background was "the sound of war planes, you can even hear the bombing".

"It does intensify overnight which is more terrifying and scary."

'Everyone is just waiting to be killed'

Crowds are waiting in southern Gaza at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in case it reopens and they can leave

The doctor had been visiting relatives he supports financially in an area where 80% of the population already relied on international aid.

Currently, supplies of food, water, fuel and medicines for Gaza's 2.2 million residents are dangerously low, as few aid trucks are allowed in.

"We don't have anything. We lost all of our possessions. We were just moving from one place to another to find a safe place," the doctor said.

"For two weeks it was the same clothes for us and the children".

The family managed to get to a market a few days ago, but it was not safe.

"Thirty-three members of the same family were killed the other day in what was meant to be a safe area," he said, adding that has become very usual to hear.

"In every street there is a building which has been hit. I think everyone is mourning, everyone is just waiting to be killed."

Families have struggled to find safety across Gaza

Since the latest fighting began, Israel has cut off electricity and most water, and stopped imports of food, fuel and other goods in retaliation for Hamas's attack.

The family have moved to the south of Gaza, as they were told it would be safer and the best place to cross the border.

As they travelled, the family saw a convoy carrying nearly 100 people from north to south, two hours before a strike killed multiple people on board.

"They're targeting everything, residential buildings, schools, whole neighbourhoods have been wiped out," he said.

The doctor contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office "on the second day to get some help" but said the team refused to take any details over the phone and told him "to go online and fill a form".

"I don't believe our government did anything to save us. We now receive regular updates via emails and WhatsApp but all of them are generic quoting media sources that Rafah crossing is still closed," he said.

But the family remain hopeful, and said their local MP Geraint Davies has been contacting the office daily.

The Swansea West MP said he has raised the family's story in an Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) briefing with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and also written a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for a ceasefire.

The doctor called for an "immediate ceasefire" to allow aid in, amid an "imminent and real danger of being killed by Israeli airstrikes".

An FCDO spokesperson said the safety of British nationals remained its top priority and it was working closely with Egypt and Israel to ensure all who want to leave Gaza "can exit via the Rafah crossing or other routes as quickly as possible".

It added: "FCDO has been keeping in close contact with British nationals in Gaza and will continue to update them on the latest status of the crossing.''