The Disappearance of Dr. Khaled El Serr and the Impact on Gaza’s Healthcare System

The Disappearance of Dr. Khaled El Serr

Dr. Khaled El Serr last communicated with his family in mid-March, just one week prior to the Israeli military’s incursion into the hospital in southern Gaza where he served as a dedicated surgeon. His cousin, Osaid AlSerr, a surgical resident in the United States, expressed the family’s deep concern: “No one has seen or heard from him since that time. We do not even know whether he is alive or dead.”

According to reports from Amnesty International, Dr. El Serr was apprehended by the Israeli military, based on testimonies from his colleagues and accounts from Palestinian detainees who have since been released. However, the military has remained silent regarding his current status.

This tragic narrative is far from isolated. The health ministry of Gaza reports that over 300 health care professionals are currently detained by Israeli forces, while many others have been held temporarily before being released. The World Health Organization has also reported that approximately 500 medical personnel have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, a staggering number considering that the pre-war workforce included around 20,000 individuals.

These figures indicate that medical workers have been killed or detained at disproportionately higher rates than the general population of Gaza, exacerbating the already dire situation of a healthcare system ravaged by war. The local population is grappling with severe challenges including widespread hunger, a lack of clean water, and the relentless spread of diseases.

“This translates to an average of two healthcare workers being killed every day, with one out of every 40 healthcare professionals—equating to 2.5 percent of Gaza’s healthcare workforce—now deceased,” stated Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity, in a recent statement.