Disappearance of Dr. Khaled El Serr
Dr. Khaled El Serr last communicated with his family in mid-March, just a week prior to the Israeli military’s raid on the hospital in southern Gaza where he practiced as a dedicated surgeon. His cousin, Osaid AlSerr, a surgical resident based in the United States, expressed deep concern: “No one has seen or heard from him since then. We are left in the dark, uncertain if he is dead or alive.”
According to Amnesty International, Dr. El Serr was taken into custody by the Israeli military, with this information stemming from the testimonies of his colleagues and Palestinian detainees who have since been released. However, the military has not provided any confirmation regarding his status.
The Plight of Gaza’s Health Workers
Dr. El Serr’s situation is far from isolated. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate that over 300 health workers are currently detained by Israeli forces, while many others have faced temporary detention before being released. Furthermore, the World Health Organization has reported that approximately 500 medical professionals have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, a staggering number from a prewar workforce of about 20,000.
The statistics reveal a harrowing reality: medical personnel have been killed and detained at disproportionately high rates compared to the general Gazan population. This situation poses a significant threat to an already fragile healthcare system, which has been severely impacted by ongoing warfare, compounded by rampant hunger, a lack of access to clean water, and the widespread prevalence of diseases.
According to Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity, the toll on healthcare workers has reached alarming levels: “This translates to an average of two healthcare workers killed every single day, with one in every 40 healthcare workers—equivalent to 2.5 percent of Gaza’s healthcare workforce—now deceased.”
