- ARAB NEWS
- 26 Apr 2024
Since 1975
Diana Farah
DUBAI: Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip is sparing no one as the death toll reaches 227, including 64 children.
On May 16, the Head of Internal Medicine at Gaza’s main Al-Shifa Hospital Ayman Abu al-Ouf was killed along with 12 members of his extended family.
The martyrs included his mother and father, his wife as well as their 12-year-old daughter Tala and 17-year-old son Tawfik.
Abu al-Ouf oversaw Al-Shifa Hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in Gaza were devastated by the loss of the doctor, including his patients, students and friends.
He treated people who had severe COVID-19 symptoms, in a ward that had few specialists in respiratory illnesses.
The doctor had finished a long shift at the hospital and went home only an hour before the Israeli air raid struck his home.
The Israeli military said that it had struck one of Hamas’ underground military structure beneath Abu al-Ouf’s street. “The underground foundations collapsed, causing the civilian housing above them to collapse, causing unintended casualties,” the military added.
The Gaza doctor was reportedly buried under the rubble for about 12 hours, but stayed alive for about six hours.
He is survived by his 15-year-old son Omar, who is the only member of the family alive. He is currently being treated for his injuries.
One of Abu al-Ouf’s previous neighbors told Arab News Japan that the he was a very well-known, reputable doctor.
“Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf was a really good doctor. Everyone spoke well of him and everyone loved him,” she said. “His reputation preceded him. He was too young to die, may he rest in peace.”
Gaza’s top Neurologist Mouin al-Aloul and Psychologist Rajaa Abu al-Ouf were also killed on the same day, causing a further strain on the strip’s medical system.
Six of Gaza’s hospitals and 11 healthcare centers have been damaged. The street leading to the main Al-Shifa Hospital was also destroyed after an Israeli airstrike, causing difficulty in transferring patients injured and in need of immediate treatment.
Social media users took to Twitter to mourn the deaths of Gaza’s top doctors, with many worrying about the present and future of the healthcare system in the strip.
Palestinian American Attorney Huwaida Arraf said: “Israel obliterated [Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf] and his family in missile strikes on his neighborhood Sunday.”
This is renowned Palestinian physician Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf, Head of Internal Medicine & COVID response at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa. Israel obliterated him & his family in missile strikes on his neighborhood Sunday. Then they blew up the roads leading to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/15aj9NgTFQ
— Huwaida Arraf (@huwaidaarraf) May 17, 2021
Investigative reporter Lila Hassan tweeted that while the rest of the world was not seeing the end of the pandemic anytime soon, in Gaza, “it is bound to get worse.”
In many parts of the world, the end of the pandemic is nowhere in sight. In Gaza, it's bound to get worse.
— Lila Hassan ليلى حسن (@lilahass) May 18, 2021
An Israeli strike killed the head of COVID response, Dr. Ayman Abu Al-Ouf. Another strike wiped out the main COVID testing center.
The strikes also stopped vaccinations.
Palestinian Twitter user Fidaa also posted pictures as a tribute to Abu al-Ouf and his children.
Doctor Ayman's parents, wife, and children were also killed in El Wehda Street massacre.
— Fidaa فِداء (@fidaazaanin) May 16, 2021
Reem Abu Al-Ouf, 39, his wife.
Tawfeeq Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, 16.
Tala Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, 12.
Majdya Khalil Abu Al-Ouf, 70.
Dr. Tawfeeq Ismael Abu Al-Ouf, 75. #GazaUnderAttack #GazaResist pic.twitter.com/r7CeYX7FMR
The World Health Organization in the Palestinian Territories expressed “deep sadness at the loss of lives” since the start of escalations.
WHO expresses deep sadness at the loss of lives across oPt since the start of escalations. Our sincere condolences to the loved ones of our medical colleagues, Dr Ayman Abu al-Ouf, head of internal medicine at Shifa; and Dr Moen al-Aloul, psychiatrist for MoH before retirement. pic.twitter.com/BQFYBdA80Z
— WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) May 16, 2021
Hamas officials are predicting a ceasefire within days, as US President Joe Biden urged Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “de-escalate” the war.
