‘I will never be the same man again’: Nurse returns to the US after spending 6 weeks in Gaza

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - A Nebraska nurse is back home after spending six weeks facing devastation and strife in Gaza.

In Omaha, the First United Methodist Church hosted the Nebraskans for Peace Palestinian Rights Taskforce.

The event featured a speech by Willy Massay, a critical care ICU nurse from Omaha.

Massay spoke about the war in Gaza, which he experienced firsthand while spending six weeks in Palestine.

“I will never be the same man again,” Massay said of his experience.

Massay was one of five American medical professionals chosen to enter the area during a medical mission through Rahma Worldwide.

“We served in both South Gaza at the Nasser Hospital and in Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza,” Massay said.

Massay’s first speech sharing what he saw in Gaza took place at the First United Methodist Church event. He is planning to share his story with people across the country.

“I saw a lot of amputated children, children with missing limbs,” Massay said. “I will never forget the smell of burning flesh and gun powder and blood.”

Massay said this experience has led him to a new purpose: working to raise funds for HEAL Palestine.

“Some of the children I was able to find, we’re going to try to bring them to the United States or to Jordan or to Egypt to help with their medical costs,” Massay said.

Massay said one thing is for sure, he will continue to share the story of the people he met while in Gaza.

“That was my promise to Palestinian children in Gaza, that I will tell your story,” he said.

As of September 8, the reported death toll for Palestinians since the Oct. 7, 2023 HAMAS attack on Israel has risen to more than 40,000 people, according to Reuters.

The total number of injured Palestinians is more than 92,000.

To help support Palestinian aid, donations can be made to HEAL Palestine.