This morning, an attack carried out by Israeli forces killed Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff member Omar Hayek and seriously injured four others. The attack took place on a street where our teams were waiting to take a bus to the MSF field hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza. All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying them as medical humanitarian workers.
We express deep sorrow and outrage over the killing, which occurred less than two weeks after another MSF colleague, Hussein Alnajjar, was killed by the Israeli forces in Deir Al Balah.
Our thoughts are with Omar’s family and colleagues at this tragic time. Omar, 42 years old, is the fourteenth MSF colleague to be killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Nowhere in Gaza is safe. The entire population has been starved and besieged for almost two years. We call for an end to the bloodshed, an end to the genocide. There must be a ceasefire now.MSF
Omar was a quiet man of profound kindness and utter professionalism. Since June 2018, he had worked as an occupational therapist at an MSF clinic in Gaza City, dedicating his life to restoring strength and dignity to thousands of patients. He remained in Gaza City before finally evacuating south on 13 September due to relentless attacks and forced displacement from Israeli forces, who claimed people would find safety there. Instead, he was killed at a bus stop on his way to work.
Omar was the sole provider for his family since his father passed away and his young brother was killed.
Multiple healthcare workers, MSF family members and MSF staff were also seriously injured in the attack this morning, including a physiotherapist, orthopaedic surgeon, supply officer and a finance assistant. One of our staff is in critical condition with shrapnel wounds.
In the moment of the attack, our colleagues were on their way to work amidst the ongoing, relentless Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Health workers in Gaza have been killed, threatened, or detained, including Dr Mohamed Obeid, an MSF surgeon still in detention with no formal charges.
While hundreds of thousands of people continue to be pushed from north Gaza to the south, for their so-called safety, they continue to be attacked and killed everywhere across the Strip. Nowhere in Gaza is safe. The entire population has been starved and besieged for almost two years. We call for an end to the bloodshed, an end to the genocide. There must be a ceasefire now.
