MSF mourns fifteenth colleague killed in Gaza
MSF said the attack was carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza, who struck a street where its teams were waiting to take a bus to an MSF field hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is mourning the death of Abel El Hameed Qaradaya, a staff member who succumbed to injuries from an Israeli strike on Gaza on Sunday.
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Abel suffered critical shrapnel wounds following an Israeli attack on Gaza on 2 October, during which his colleague Omar Hayek was killed and several others injured.
“It is with profound sorrow and outrage that Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirms the death of our colleague Abel El Hameed Qaradaya. Despite the care provided by medical teams, he succumbed to his critical injuries on Sunday, October 5, following the attack on Thursday, October 2, in which our colleague Omar Hayek was also killed and several others injured,” said MSF.
Abel becomes the 15th MSF staff member to be killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and the third in less than 20 days.
MSF said the attack was carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza, who struck a street where its teams were waiting to take a bus to an MSF field hospital in Deir al-Balah.
“All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying them as medical humanitarian workers. Abel and Omar left Gaza City following evacuation orders and relentless Israeli attacks, only to be killed by those same forces in what was described as a ‘safer zone’. There is no safe place in Gaza. Our thoughts are with Abel’s wife and two children. His loss is immense, with a tragic impact on his loved ones, MSF and the Gaza health system,” MSF added.
The organisation eulogised Abel as a cornerstone of MSF’s physiotherapy department in Gaza for the past 18 years.
“He was a unique and invaluable specialist in both physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Abel was dedicated not only to his patients’ physical recovery but also to restoring their hope and sense of dignity.”
MSF said it will remember him for his continued work amid immense challenges, including shortages caused by the Israeli blockade.
“He innovated and adapted tools, working with tailors and logisticians to create custom compression suits for burn patients, and modified walkers to suit the specific needs of patients wounded and amputated during this genocide. He was the driving force behind opening the 3D physiotherapy department, insisting on bringing new technologies for patient care into Gaza,” said MSF.
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