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The family of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, one of Gaza’s most prominent medical professionals and director of the Indonesian Hospital, believes that he was intentionally targeted in an Israeli airstrike that killed him on Wednesday. The missile struck the Gaza City apartment where he and several relatives had taken refuge after fleeing the north. His wife, daughter, sister, and son-in-law also perished in the attack, leaving his surviving children devastated and convinced the strike was deliberate.
I. Family Claims Targeted Killing of Senior Doctor
1. Precise Strike Raises Suspicion
Dr. Sultan’s daughter, Lobna, said the missile hit the specific room her father was in, leaving other parts of the apartment undamaged. “All the rooms were intact except for his,” she explained, suggesting the precision of the strike was not accidental.
2. Son Believes Intent Was Clear
His son Ahmed echoed the sentiment, insisting there could be “no other explanation” but that the Israeli military targeted his father intentionally. According to him, only the levels where their family stayed were hit, leaving the rest of the building mostly untouched. Media footage confirmed damage localized to the fourth and fifth floors.
II. A Devoted Doctor and His Legacy
1. A Life of Commitment to Gaza’s Healthcare
Ahmed described his father as wholly dedicated to his medical duties, refusing to abandon his post even amid constant danger. “Until his last breath, he stayed at his job,” he said. “He gave everything for his profession and his people.” He recalled the chaos after the strike, describing the horror of returning to the apartment and finding only body parts of loved ones.
2. Loss Beyond the Family
Dr. Sultan’s death is being mourned not only by his relatives but by the wider medical community in Gaza. As one of just two remaining cardiologists in the besieged region, his loss has deepened an already dire medical crisis, according to the Palestinian organization Healthcare Worker Watch (HWW).
3. A Symbol of Dedication Under Siege
Despite being trapped in hospitals under siege—including the Indonesian and Kamal Adwan hospitals—Dr. Sultan continued to serve. His son noted that during the early months of the war, they rarely saw him except for brief moments, as he was constantly at work.
III. Systemic Targeting of Healthcare Leaders
1. Decimation of Medical Leadership
Dr. Sultan’s death marks the complete removal—through death or detention—of all hospital directors in northern Gaza. This includes Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout and Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya from Kamal Adwan Hospital, and Dr. Ahmed Muhanna from al-Awda Hospital, all of whom are now in Israeli custody.
2. Israeli Military’s Official Statement
In a response to the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it had targeted a “key terrorist” from Hamas in the area of Gaza City and that reports of civilian casualties were being examined. The statement added that Hamas uses civilian areas for military operations, a practice they claim complicates efforts to avoid harming noncombatants.
IV. Mounting Toll on Gaza’s Medical Workers
1. Dozens of Health Workers Killed
Data from Healthcare Worker Watch reveals that Dr. Sultan was the 70th medical worker killed by Israeli forces within a 50-day span. The United Nations reports that since the war began in October 2023, more than 1,400 healthcare professionals in Gaza have lost their lives.
2. Possible Violation of International Law
Under the Geneva Conventions, which outline wartime conduct, attacks on medical personnel are prohibited and may constitute war crimes. These laws are meant to ensure that doctors and nurses are protected during conflict and can continue to care for those in need without fear of being targeted.
Conclusion
The killing of Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, a highly respected cardiologist and hospital director in Gaza, is emblematic of the immense toll the war has taken on the territory’s healthcare system. His death not only leaves a void in his family but represents a devastating loss to an already overwhelmed medical community. With the deaths and detentions of other senior healthcare figures, concerns are mounting over the apparent systematic targeting of medical professionals—a potential breach of international humanitarian law.
