Gaza Herald_ For Israa Al-Qouqa, every day since her husband’s arrest has been marked by uncertainty, fear, and hope that she will finally receive news of his release.
Her husband, Dr. Murad Al-Qouqa, a 47-year-old orthopedic and spinal surgeon from Gaza, has been held in Israeli detention since March 19, 2024, following the Israeli military raid on Al-Shifa Medical Complex, where he continued treating patients despite the ongoing bombardment.
According to Israa, her husband remained at the hospital until the last possible moment, refusing to abandon the wounded even as conditions inside Al-Shifa became increasingly dangerous.
“He wasn’t only my husband,” she says. “He was a source of strength for our family and for everyone who knew him. He carried the responsibility of medicine with honesty and stayed beside his patients until the very end.”
Dr. Al-Qouqa serves as head of the Orthopedic and Spine Surgery Unit at Al-Shifa Hospital and spent years caring for patients, including throughout the war in Gaza.
Reports of Torture and Medical Neglect
Israa says she was displaced to southern Gaza when her husband was arrested, leaving her unable to see him or learn what had happened.
“The news of his arrest was devastating,” she recalls. “For a long time, we knew almost nothing.”
Information later obtained through lawyers indicated that Dr. Al-Qouqa had reportedly been subjected to physical abuse, torture, and harsh treatment during detention. He also sustained an injury to his eye that affected his vision.
She says his health has continued to deteriorate behind bars.
According to the information available to the family, he suffers from an eye injury, a herniated disc, high blood pressure, and stomach ulcers. He was also reportedly denied essential medication for an extended period.
“The conditions of his detention caused him to lose nearly 45 kilograms,” Israa says. “I don’t know how he continues to endure all this suffering.”
A Family Living With Loss
The family’s hardship has extended far beyond Dr. Al-Qouqa’s imprisonment.
Their home was heavily damaged during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, forcing Israa to flee repeatedly in search of safety.
“I was displaced more than ten times,” she says. “Our house is no longer livable, and now I’m staying in a single room at my parents’ home after losing everything we built together.”
She describes her husband as a devoted physician who was deeply committed to both his profession and his family, always placing the needs of others before his own.
Waiting for Justice
The family’s latest information indicates that Dr. Al-Qouqa is being held in the Negev Prison after being transferred between several detention facilities.
Although a lawyer has recently been permitted to visit him after a prolonged period, the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been able to do so, according to Israa.
She says the uncertainty surrounding his condition has become one of the hardest parts of their ordeal.
“Every day I wait for news that will reassure us,” she says. “Not knowing what he’s going through is incredibly painful. I don’t know when he’ll return home. All I can do is wait and pray.”
Israa is calling on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene on behalf of Palestinian healthcare workers held in Israeli prisons.
She urged immediate action to secure her husband’s release, along with other detained Palestinians, and called for an end to what she described as torture, medical neglect, and the mistreatment of detainees.
“Doctors dedicate their lives to saving others,” she says. “Their place is in hospitals with their patients, not behind prison bars.”
