Doctors Without Borders mourns 15th staff member killed in Gaza by 'Israeli' attack

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has confirmed the death of Abed El Hameed Qaradaya, a senior physiotherapy manager, following an attack by 'Israeli' forces in Gaza.

The organization described the loss as “profoundly sorrowful and outrageous.”

Qaradaya, 43, succumbed on Sunday, 5 October, to critical shrapnel injuries sustained during an attack on Thursday, 2 October in Deir Al-Balah. The attack also killed fellow MSF staff member Omar Hayek and injured several others. All personnel were clearly marked as humanitarian medical workers at the time.

Abed El Hameed was the fifteenth MSF staff member killed in Gaza since the outbreak of 'Israeli' violence on 7 October 2023, and the third colleague to die in less than three weeks. MSF described him as a cornerstone of its physiotherapy department in Gaza for the past 18 years, highlighting his dedication to both patient recovery and dignity.

“Abed innovated and adapted tools to meet the needs of patients wounded or amputated in the conflict, including custom compression suits for burn victims and personalized walkers,” MSF said. He was also instrumental in establishing Gaza’s 3D physiotherapy department, introducing new technologies to the region despite ongoing supply shortages due to the blockade.

MSF noted that Qaradaya and Hayek had left Gaza City in search of a “safer zone” following evacuation orders, only to be killed in the attack. “There is no safe place in Gaza,” the organization stated.

The charity expressed condolences to Abed’s wife and two children, emphasizing the impact of his death on his family, colleagues, and Gaza’s health system. His colleagues remembered him as optimistic, compassionate, and a source of support and inspiration.

MSF has called for an immediate ceasefire, stressing that the deaths underscore a broader pattern of disregard for civilian lives and humanitarian workers in Gaza.