Israel's War on Doctors and Healthcare Workers in Gaza

PALESTINE has once again lost a highly dedicated doctor. Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan, a prominent doctor in the Gaza Strip and the director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, along with his wife and daughter, as reported by The New Arab.

An Israeli air raid hit their residence in 'Area 17' in Gaza City, where they sought refuge after fleeing Jabalia.

During months of Israeli siege, Dr. Marwan stayed at the Indonesian Hospital, overseeing its operations and providing medical care to patients amidst ongoing attacks. Despite being repeatedly bombed and the hospital nearly collapsing entirely, he remained dedicated to his work. He was among the last staff to be evacuated when Israeli attacks forced the hospital to cease operations in May.

The doctor's tenacious fight amidst Israeli siege

At his funeral, his grieving daughter, Lamis, recounted that her father refused to leave his duties until the very end. "He stayed with his patients until the very last moment," she said.

Dr. Marwan was a senior cardiologist and an assistant professor at the Islamic University of Gaza. He perished alongside his wife, sister, daughter, and son-in-law in an Israeli airstrike that targeted their home in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. His daughter, Lobna al-Sultan, testified that the missile accurately targeted the room where her father was, leaving other rooms untouched. This fact confirms that the attack was indeed intentional.

As a consultant cardiologist and professor at the Islamic University of Gaza, Dr. Al-Sultan was actively involved in the efforts to restore and reopen the Indonesian Hospital after previous Israeli attacks. He was one of two remaining cardiologists in the besieged and heavily bombarded Gaza Strip.

Profound shock and sorrow engulfed Gaza following Dr. Marwan's death. His cousin, Mohammed al-Sultan, described him as a calm and dedicated doctor who remained steadfast at the hospital even during the siege. Marwan ensured his team received scarce food supplies before taking any for himself. More than just a doctor, he embodied unwavering commitment and patience.

Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of al-Shifa Hospital, expressed deep mourning, emphasizing that Marwan is an irreplaceable member of the community. As one of the two remaining cardiologists in Gaza and a respected scholar, his death will cause immense suffering among thousands of heart patients. "His only fault was that he was a doctor," lamented Dr. Abu Selmia. Despite the devastating loss, the medical staff vowed to remain resilient.

Israel's war on doctors in Gaza

This tragic murder occurred amid intensive and systematic attacks on Gaza's healthcare infrastructure by Israel. Since October 2023, over 1,580 healthcare workers have been killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Many hospitals in Gaza and ambulances have been bombed or blocked, and senior medical personnel have been detained or killed, even after evacuation attempts.

On the day of Marwan al-Sultan's death, Channel 4 in the UK aired a new documentary titled Doctors Under Attack, directed by Ben de Pear, Ramita Navai, and Karim Shah. The film reveals deliberate targeting of healthcare personnel and medical facilities in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war, now entering its 21st month. In particular, the documentary had previously been pulled by BBC.

On June 6, nine healthcare workers were killed in an Israeli strike that devastated northern Gaza as they sought shelter with their families. as reported by Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW). His death represents a severe blow to the medical community and the healthcare system in Gaza, according to Muath Alser, director of HWW.

Alser stressed that this murder is part of a prolonged and systematic campaign targeting healthcare workers with impunity, erasing decades of vital medical expertise at a time when Gaza's civilian population faces an unimaginable humanitarian crisis.

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) strongly condemned the killing of Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan, highlighting his dedication to providing care under relentless Israeli bombing and blockade. The Indonesian Hospital, which he led, was forced to close in May after an Israeli attack left patients exposed in the streets.

Why does Israel target hospitals in Gaza?

The attack on Dr. Marwan and the Indonesian Hospital underscores a broader pattern of deadly strikes against Gaza's medical infrastructure during Israel's prolonged military offensive.

The Israeli military has faced accusations of deliberately targeting Gaza's healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, medical staff, and ambulances, severely crippling the medical system during the nearly two-year conflict.

Since the war began, over 1,500 healthcare workers have been killed and 300 detained, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Healthcare Workers Watch highlights that the loss of medical professionals like Dr. Marwan not only results in tragic deaths but also erases invaluable medical expertise when it is critically needed, as reported by Middle East Eye.

The Indonesian Hospital, under Dr. Marwan's leadership, has sustained significant damage from repeated Israeli attacks and has been non-operational in recent weeks.

Israel claims the strikes targeted key Hamas figures, but the Gaza Ministry of Health accuses the Israel Defense Forces of systematically targeting medical personnel and humanitarian facilities. The United Nations has noted that no fully functioning hospital exists in northern Gaza, underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on healthcare access and provision.

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