Brave doctor dies days after refusing to abandon his patients in the face of heavy bombing

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to cause immense suffering on both sides, growing more intense with each passing day. Amid the chaos, the unwavering resilience of individuals is deeply inspiring. One such story is that of Dr. Hammam Alloh, a renowned nephrologist in Gaza, whose final words left a profound impact. In one of his last interviews, Dr. Alloh expressed his deep commitment to his patients, choosing to stay and serve them rather than seek safety for himself and his family. The 36-year-old doctor explained to Democracy Now why he always prioritized his patients' lives over his own.

When asked by the publication, "Why don't you go with your family south?" He replied with no hesitation, "And if I go, who treats my patients?" After a pause, he continued with determination, "We are not animals. We have the right to receive proper healthcare." He wasn't done conveying his will to stay and fight through his profession, for which he went through rigorous training. He further added, "You think I went to medical school and for my postgraduate degrees for a total of 14 years, so I think only about my life and not my patients?" After a grave pause, he questioned the journalist, "I'm asking you, ma'am? Do you think this is the reason I went to med school? To think only about my life?" Before the journalist could speak further, he concluded, "This is not the reason I became a doctor."

He also spoke in the interview about finding gratitude even among the poor conditions of living that the Palestinians were faced with. He said, "We still have a house with a door to close. But many thousand refugees, people like us, who used to live in dignity, have no longer houses and no doors to close to protect them as they are surrounded by wastewater, by garbage." The doctor added, "They don't have a liquid continuous supply of clean water to drink. Many of them have a lot of missing members of their families. They don't know if they are alive or not."

These were his last words. Soon after, news of Dr. Alloh's and his family's death reached his sister Shaymma Alloh in the US. She informed the Associated Press of the heartbreaking news she had hoped never to hear. Her brother and many other family members were in his in-law's house when it was hit by a missile. The confirmed deaths included Dr. Hammam Alloh, who treated patients at Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza.

The Palestinian Youth Movement posted on their X account about the death of Dr Hammam Alloh and the caption read, "Today, Dr. Alloh of Al-Shifa Hospital and his family were martyred after an Israeli missile struck a house near the hospital where they were sheltering. Glory to him and all our healthcare workers martyred. May every healer of the Palestinians be recalled at the hour of liberation." Dr Hammam Alloh's bravery and his commitment to helping others without a care about his own life made him a hero in front of the world. 

Editor's note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2023. It has since been updated.