Gaza Doctor's Death in Hospital Strike Labeled 'Horrific Crime' Amidst Escalating Israeli Attacks on Healthcare

Dr. Rizq Abu Shuaira, a surgeon at Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, was killed in an Israeli strike on Thursday morning, an event described by the Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson, Zaher al-Waheidi, as a "horrific crime." The strike, which hit the hospital's surgery department, claimed at least six lives, including Dr. Abu Shuaira and a child. Al-Waheidi lamented the loss of Dr. Abu Shuaira as a significant blow to the medical profession in Gaza, a region already grappling with extensive damage to its health facilities since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. He emphasized that the doctor was on duty, providing care to patients, when he was killed.

The Nasser Medical Complex, serving approximately 500,000 people in southern Gaza, has reportedly been attacked seven times. The strike caused widespread destruction within the surgery and operating rooms, with significant damage also reported in outpatient clinics, the radiology department, and the laboratory. The Gaza Government Media Office holds Israel and the United States directly responsible for the attack, which also killed a 13-year-old child. The media office has documented 793 Israeli attacks on healthcare services, and a report by Insecurity Insight on ReliefWeb indicated at least 3,508 attacks on healthcare in the occupied Palestinian territory between October 2023 and September 2026, with 95 percent attributed to Israeli forces. During this period, 399 health workers were detained in Gaza, including Dr. Husam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been in Israeli custody for over 500 days.

Al-Waheidi stated that Israeli forces have consistently targeted Gaza's health system, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,725 medical workers. Of Gaza's 37 hospitals, only 20 are partially functioning, while 17 are nonoperational. Health authorities report a 44 percent stockout of essential medicines due to Israeli blockades.

The conflict has also impacted healthcare in the occupied West Bank. A World Health Organization report documented 124 attacks on healthcare facilities in the West Bank between January and August 2026, resulting in four deaths and 40 injuries. The Independent Palestinian Doctors Association (IPDA) reported 23 violations against the healthcare system in the West Bank during October 2026 alone. Incidents included Israeli forces storming Salfit Government Hospital twice to confiscate surveillance footage and raiding a nearby ambulance center. Eid Dwaikat, media director of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, described the dangerous operational environment for paramedics due to movement restrictions and sieges, which directly threaten their safety and delay life-saving aid.

The systemic imprisonment of doctors has further exacerbated the crisis. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) has highlighted the cases of 14 detained Palestinian doctors, including hospital directors and surgeons, held without formal charges under the 'Unlawful Combatants Law.' Al-Waheidi criticized this practice as arbitrary deprivation, demanding that any evidence be presented in a fair public trial. Dr. Husam Abu Safia's case is particularly concerning, with a PHRI-obtained medical review revealing significant weight loss, decreased hemoglobin levels, and chest pain. His petition for release was dismissed by the Israeli Supreme Court, which also denied an independent medical examination. PHRI reported that Dr. Abu Safia has experienced severe beatings and consciousness loss, suggesting a policy of torture and abuse by the Israeli Prison Service. The conditions for the approximately 10,000 Palestinians held in Israeli detention are described as appalling.

The prolonged detention of medical staff has a profound human cost. Elias Abu Safia, son of Dr. Husam Abu Safia, expressed the agony of not speaking with his father for 685 days and the deep concern over his father's health and treatment in Israeli prisons.