Loss of Prominent Cardiologist in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike has claimed the life of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, a leading cardiologist in Gaza, marking a significant blow to an already weakened healthcare system. Reports indicate several family members were also killed in the same strike.

Impact on Healthcare Workers

Dr. al-Sultan, who served as the director of the Indonesian Hospital in the Gaza Strip, becomes the 70th healthcare worker to die from Israeli attacks in just 50 days, as reported by Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical organization. His death is described as a catastrophic loss for both Gaza and the global medical community.

Devastation to Medical Community

“The killing of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan by the Israeli military is a devastating blow to Gaza’s healthcare system,” stated Muath Alser, director of HWW. He emphasized that this incident reflects a systematic targeting of healthcare personnel and erases years of medical expertise during a time of unprecedented crisis for Palestinian civilians.

Reactions from Colleagues

Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, expressed profound grief, saying, “He was irreplaceable. As one of the last remaining cardiologists, thousands of heart patients will suffer due to his loss. His only fault was being a doctor, and although we must remain steadfast, the sense of loss is unbearable.”

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Earlier in the month, Dr. al-Sultan described the dire situation at the Indonesian Hospital as they faced overwhelming civilian casualties due to escalated Israeli attacks. In recent weeks, multiple healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, have lost their lives in airstrikes while providing care.

Tragic Incidents

Fares Afana, head of ambulance services in northern Gaza, lost his son, Bara’a, who was a paramedic. Bara’a was killed when an apartment building was struck by Israeli artillery while he was treating casualties from a previous attack. Afana described the scene as horrendous and noted that the world’s indifference has emboldened further attacks on healthcare workers.

Statistics and Detainment

Since the outbreak of war in October 2023, over 1,400 healthcare workers have reportedly lost their lives in military actions. NGOs like Insecurity Insight have confirmed multiple instances where healthcare workers have been targeted while providing aid. Furthermore, hundreds of healthcare personnel from Gaza are believed to be detained in Israel, where they have reported severe mistreatment.