Maisara Al Rayyes, an emergency doctor and medical supervisor who worked for Médecins du Monde for two years, was killed, along with his family, when his home in Gaza was bombed on 5 November 2023..
We express our deepest condolences and our full support to his family and our team, who have already been experiencing indescribable and terrible moments for several weeks.
From the very beginning of this conflict, Médecins du Monde has condemned the continuous and indiscriminate bombing, which has cost the lives of thousands of civilians as well as our colleagues in the humanitarian and health sectors. We take this tragic opportunity to stress once again that a ceasefire is vital to end this new cycle of bloodshed.
Maisara Al Rayyes
Maisara Al Rayyes was 28 years old and lived in Gaza, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. After studying medicine in London, he chose to return to practice his profession in Gaza. Just a few days ago, Maisara wrote to a friend: “Every time I enjoy a happy moment with my family, I imagine that perhaps the families who were bombed were also happy before they were killed… I imagine myself under the rubble and I am frightened at the thought of being alive under the ruins of my home.”
After the bombing of his home, Maisara Al Rayyes, his family and other Gaza residents remained under the rubble for more than 48 hours. Rescuers were delayed due to lack of fuel, which continues to be necessary for moving ambulances, and conducting search operations and running health structures. The rescue mission then had to be interrupted due to further shelling in the area. The current provisional death toll is estimated at 14.
Médecins du Monde condemns the fact that the people who have remained in the northern part of the Gaza Strip are being treated as collateral damage. They are the victims of a political decision not to prioritise and protect the lives of civilians, medical personnel and humanitarian workers. Maisara Al Rayyes and his family paid for this with their lives.
