Tragic Loss: Senior Gaza Doctor Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a devastating blow to Gaza's already strained healthcare system, Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, a distinguished cardiologist and director of the Indonesian Hospital, was killed during an Israeli airstrike on July 1, 2025. His death marks the 70th healthcare worker fatality in the region within a mere 50 days, as reported by Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian medical organization focusing on the safety and rights of healthcare professionals in conflict zones.

Dr. al-Sultan, renowned for his expertise and leadership, was reportedly killed alongside several family members, a tragic loss that has sent shockwaves throughout the medical community in Gaza. "The killing of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan by the Israeli military is a catastrophic loss to Gaza and the entire medical community," said Muath Alser, director of HWW. "This is part of a much longer and systematic atrocious targeting of healthcare workers sanctioned by impunity."

The situation in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with healthcare workers increasingly becoming casualties of military operations. Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of al-Shifa hospital, expressed profound grief, stating, "He cannot be replaced. He was a prominent scholar and one of the two remaining cardiologists left in Gaza. Thousands of heart patients will suffer as a result of his killing. His only fault was that he was a doctor."

The healthcare crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by a series of airstrikes that have targeted medical facilities and personnel. Earlier this month, Dr. al-Sultan spoke about the overwhelming number of civilian casualties his hospital was facing due to the ongoing violence, highlighting the desperate need for medical assistance amidst the chaos. "We cannot cope with the number of patients arriving daily. The situation is critical," he noted in an interview with The Guardian.

Statistics from the United Nations indicate that since the onset of the conflict in October 2023, over 1,400 healthcare workers have been killed in military attacks. This staggering figure includes incidents where medical staff were shot by Israeli snipers while attempting to reach wounded civilians, and others who lost their lives in airstrikes while treating patients in hospital settings.

Insecurity Insight, a conflict data NGO, has reported that healthcare workers have faced direct targeting, with many killed while providing emergency care. Fares Afana, who leads ambulance services in northern Gaza, lost his son, Bara’a, a paramedic, during an airstrike earlier this month. "They were directly targeted. If there had been some reaction from the world when healthcare workers were first targeted by the Israeli forces, they would have not dared to commit more of these attacks," Afana stated, emphasizing the urgent need for international attention and action against such violations.

The international community has raised concerns regarding the safety of healthcare workers in conflict zones. In a report published by Medglobal, a U.S.-based medical NGO, it is estimated that over 300 medical staff are currently imprisoned by Israeli forces, facing allegations of torture and mistreatment.

As the conflict continues to unfold, the implications of Dr. al-Sultan's death extend far beyond the personal tragedy of his family and colleagues. This incident underscores the broader systemic issues of violence against medical personnel in conflict zones, raising urgent calls for accountability and protection for those who dedicate their lives to saving others.

The future of healthcare in Gaza appears increasingly precarious as the death toll among medical professionals rises. Experts are urging the international community to intervene and ensure the safety of healthcare workers to prevent further erosion of medical services in the region. With the ongoing conflict showing no signs of abating, the loss of experienced medical professionals like Dr. al-Sultan highlights a critical humanitarian crisis that demands immediate global attention.