SAFA- For Dr. Maysara Al-Rais, medicine was never just a profession. It was a lifelong commitment to serving others, a mission that guided him from his days as a medical student in Gaza to postgraduate studies in London. Despite promising opportunities abroad, he chose to return home, determined to serve his community at a time when every skilled physician was desperately needed.

His sister, Fatima, the sole survivor of their immediate family, recalls that Maysara, born on Jan. 31, 1995, had been an exceptional student from an early age, consistently ranking first throughout primary, middle, and high school.

Speaking to Felesteen newspaper, Fatima said her brother studied medicine at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, graduating in 2019. Soon afterward, he was awarded the prestigious UK Chevening Scholarship, allowing him to pursue a master's degree in Women's and Children's Health at King's College London.

For Maysara, studying abroad was never simply about advancing his career. It was an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience that he intended to bring back to Gaza. After completing his studies, he returned to the Strip in July 2021 and joined Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), where he worked in the health sector.

Choosing to Return

Fatima said Maysara could have remained in Britain but chose to return to Gaza, influenced by their father's longstanding wish that his children remain close to home.

Those words stayed with him. He returned, began his medical career, got engaged, and married. Tragically, he was killed just five months after his wedding.

Only two weeks before the Israeli genocide began on Oct. 7, 2023, Maysara had returned to Gaza with his wife after spending time in London. Soon afterward, he found himself living through one of the darkest periods in the Strip's history.

While working with Doctors of the World, Maysara was not assigned to emergency rooms. Instead, he focused on health and administrative programs aimed at strengthening Gaza's healthcare system, training medical personnel, and improving the preparedness of health centers.

Fatima said his commitment to healthcare long predated the genocide. He had volunteered extensively, including providing first aid during the Great March of Return protests.

Dr. Jihad Hammad also remembers Maysara fondly. Their first meeting took place near one of the bridges over the River Thames in central London, while their last was at a café in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood.

Hammad described him as a calm, thoughtful young man who combined academic excellence with humility. They frequently met alongside other Palestinian graduates who had earned master's degrees from London universities.

According to Hammad, Maysara embodied both ambition and integrity—a young doctor whose dedication to knowledge and ethical service ended when he was buried beneath the rubble of his family's home.

A Family's Tragedy

On Nov. 5, 2023, the Al-Rais family suffered an unimaginable loss.

Fatima said an Israeli airstrike struck the residential building where the family lived on Al-Sinaa Street in Gaza City. Inside were her father, mother, brother Maysara, sisters Areeb and Izzah, and Izzah's three children.

She said her brother Moayad had left the building only moments before the strike. Shortly after he walked away, the entire structure collapsed.

After days of searching under extremely difficult conditions, rescue teams recovered some family members, while others remained trapped beneath the rubble because emergency crews were unable to reach them safely.