Dr Marwan Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, was killed in an airstrike by the Israeli occupation that struck his home west of Gaza City. His death marks the loss of one of Gaza’s most respected medical figures.

Throughout the war on Gaza, Dr Sultan remained at the hospital despite repeated Israeli attacks. He refused to abandon his patients, working under siege and severe shortages. His resilience became a symbol of steadfastness.

Despite warnings and direct threats from the Israeli occupation to evacuate, Dr Sultan continued treating the wounded even as the hospital came under fire. After being displaced from Jabalia, he and several family members were killed in a strike on their temporary shelter.

He was one of Gaza’s leading cardiologists, holding a Jordanian board certification in internal medicine. His leadership during crisis earned him admiration across the medical community.

His son Ahmad told Safa News Agency that his father suffered deeply when unable to help patients due to lack of resources:

“He always did what he could, even with nothing”

Ahmad said his father refused to flee the north, believing his duty was to stay:

“He felt leaving meant betraying patients, especially those with heart and internal conditions”

The family rarely saw him:

“Sometimes we only got updates from the Ministry of Health. We feared he might be among the victims”

According to Ahmad, Israeli forces threatened his father multiple times, ordering him to leave the hospital. He refused and eventually stopped responding.

In May 2025, a direct strike forced the Indonesian Hospital out of service. While others evacuated, Dr Sultan stayed until the very end.

In his final message, he urged his children to care for their mother. He feared for her future if he were martyred, not knowing she would die beside him

Dr Marwan Sultan, his wife and relatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike. His death is another devastating loss to Gaza’s collapsing health system.

According to the Government Media Office, over 1,580 healthcare workers in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli occupation since 7 October 2023.