Doctors Without Borders condemned Israel for killing an occupational therapist in Gaza. Israel has killed over 1,500 medical professionals in Gaza, including 14 Doctors Without Borders staffers.
“An attack carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza killed Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) occupational therapist Omar Hayek and seriously injured four other people,” the statement from MSF explained. “The attack took place on a street where our teams were waiting to take a bus to the MSF field hospital in Deir Al-Balah. All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying themselves as medical humanitarian workers.”
“Multiple health care workers, MSF family members, and MSF staff were also seriously injured in the attack this morning, including a physiotherapist, orthopedic surgeon, supply officer, and a finance assistant.” MSF adds, “One of our staff members is in critical condition with shrapnel wounds.”
Israel has frequently attacked hospitals and medical facilities across Gaza, leaving the millions of Palestinians in the Strip with only one fully functioning hospital. UN experts have deemed Israel’s onslaught in Gaza a “medicide” or the intentional destruction of the health care system.
The World Health Organization found Israel has conducted over 700 attacks on health care facilities. The WHO reports that 1,580 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals have been killed over the past two years.
MSF said the attack that killed Hayek is “part of a years-long pattern of targeting health care.” The organization went on to say Israel is conducting a genocide in Gaza and called for a ceasefire.
In addition to killing and wounding thousands of health care professionals, Israel has arrested Palestinian doctors attempting to provide care. Dr. Husam Abu Safiya was the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital until Israel put the facility under siege.
Israel arrested Dr. Safiya and has been held in detention since December 2024. A rights group that was able to meet with Dr. Safiya in prison last month reports his health is declining and he is suffering from multiple untreated ailments.
MSF said one of its surgeons, Dr. Mohamed Obeid, is being held in Israeli detention without charges.
