Prominent physician in Gaza assessed as irreplaceable, following alleged Israeli assassination
In the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, the Gaza Strip's healthcare system is facing a spiraling crisis, with the deliberate targeting of medical personnel and facilities by Israeli military forces. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 94% of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed over the past 20 months.
The latest casualty is Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, a 49-year-old cardiologist and a prominent figure in Gaza's medical community, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week. Tragically, Dr. al-Sultan's family—his wife, a daughter, and son-in-law—were also killed in the same attack.
Dr. al-Sultan's death has been described as a major blow to Gaza's medical establishment and will not be easily replaced. He was one of only two cardiologists in the region, and his loss leaves a significant gap in the provision of critical care.
Sadly, Dr. al-Sultan is not the only prominent Palestinian doctor to have been killed during the conflict. At least five veteran doctors, including Dr. Hammam Alloh, a kidney expert, and Dr. Mohammed Dabbour, Gaza's first cancer pathologist, have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli military often justifies attacks on hospitals by accusing Hamas of militarizing healthcare facilities, but international humanitarian law is clear that hospitals should be protected in conflict zones. However, the pattern of destruction has resulted in a catastrophic impact on Gaza’s health system.
Conditions in northern Gaza, where Dr. al-Sultan lived and worked, are particularly dire. Of the hospitals that are functioning, only 12 provide services beyond basic emergency care. Moreover, only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain operational, according to the WHO.
The WHO has also documented nearly 700 attacks on health care facilities during the war. The repeated attacks have resulted in a significant loss of healthcare workers, reducing the capacity to treat injuries and illness. The remaining facilities are overwhelmed, struggling with insufficient staff, supplies, and equipment.
The overall health emergency deepens, increasing civilian suffering and death. The killing of medical professionals like Dr. al-Sultan exacerbates the collapse of healthcare infrastructure and contributes to an acute shortage of skilled personnel needed for trauma, critical care, and emergency medicine.
In addition to the physical destruction of hospitals and the loss of healthcare workers, the al-Sultan family, like many others, has been displaced from their home. Dr. al-Sultan's son, Ahmed, a medical student, may follow in his father's footsteps, but the future of Gaza's healthcare system remains uncertain.
As the conflict continues, the health crisis in Gaza worsens, with no end in sight. The deliberate targeting of medical personnel and facilities not only violates international law but systematically dismantles Gaza’s healthcare capabilities during a time of extreme humanitarian need, creating a spiraling health crisis for the population.
[1] References: World Health Organization reports and news articles from reputable sources.
- The investigation into targeted attacks on medical personnel and facilities in Gaza by international bodies, such as the World Health Organization and various media outlets, highlights the ongoing crisis.
- The community in Toronto and across the globe have organized protests, demanding immediate action to protect healthcare workers and facilities under threat in Gaza.
- The loss of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan and other medical professionals underscores the crucial role of health and wellness professionals in times of conflict, prompting discussions about ways to ensure medical-condition patients receive proper care.
- Science and medical research institutions have expressed their concern over the devastating impact of these ongoing attacks on advancing medical knowledge and science in Gaza.
- Lawyers from around the world are calling for a legal examination and possible charges against violators of international humanitarian law in the midst of mounting protests in the media against the systematic dismantling of Gaza's health system.
