‘Horrific crime’: Gaza doctor killed as Israel expands war on healthcare
Dr Rizq Abu Shuaira was killed in an Israeli strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza on Thursday, along with at least five other people, including a 13-year-old child.
The strike targeted the surgery department of the Nasser Medical Complex, causing widespread destruction in operating rooms and outpatient clinics.
The world woke up to the crime of targeting the Nasser Medical Complex.
Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Waheidi described the incident as a horrific crime, noting that the complex had already been attacked seven times before.
The attack killed Dr Rizq Abu Shuaira and a 13-year-old child, alongside at least four other people, as the doctor was on duty providing services to patients.
Systematic targeting of health system
The Gaza Government Media Office holds Israel and the United States directly responsible for the strike, citing a documented history of attacks on healthcare.
Health authorities report that 44 percent of essential medicines are out of stock as Israel continues to block supplies into the enclave of 2.3 million people.
Since October 2023, at least 1,725 medical workers have been killed, and 399 have been detained, including Dr Husam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital.
A report by Insecurity Insight revealed that 95 percent of attacks on healthcare in the occupied Palestinian territory were attributed to Israeli forces between October 2023 and September 2026.
Expanding attacks in the West Bank
The violence has expanded beyond Gaza to the occupied West Bank, where the World Health Organization documented 124 distinct attacks on healthcare between January and August 2026.
The Independent Palestinian Doctors Association reported 23 violations against the healthcare system in October 2026 alone, including the storming of Salfit Government Hospital.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s Eid Dwaikat described the operational environment as highly dangerous and complex due to siege, closure, and restrictions on movement.
Detaining paramedics and preventing teams from reaching the injured directly delays life-saving first aid, which multiplies the risk of death or the exacerbation of critical injuries.
Detained medical staff and abuse
Physicians for Human Rights Israel has highlighted the plight of 14 detained Palestinian doctors, including hospital directors and specialised surgeons held without formal charges.
Holding doctors for nearly two years under what is called the ‘Unlawful Combatants Law’ without pressing any charge and without trial … of course is incorrect.
An independent medical review of Dr Husam Abu Safia’s records showed a weight loss of 14kg in four months, a drop in haemoglobin levels, and chest pain.
Tirza Leibowitz of Physicians for Human Rights Israel stated that the Israeli Prison Service has implemented a policy of torture and abuse against Palestinian detainees.
Elias Abu Safia, the son of the detained director, said the family has not spoken with his father for 685 days and only receives information through his lawyer.
The Israeli Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition seeking Dr Abu Safia’s release and refused to allow an independent physician to examine him.
Related
