Devoted Father: Dr. Maisara Azmi Ibrahim Alrayyes

His full name was Dr. Maisara Azmi Ibrahim Alrayyes. That name is no longer only the name of a physician, it has been etched into history as a symbol of medical heroism demonstrated on the frontlines. He was born in a community that is long subjected to war and isolation. Dr. Alrayyes name has, over time, become synonymous with resistance and sacrifice.

Born on January 31, 1995, Maisara spent his childhood and youth amid the blockade and political instability in Gaza. At the age of only 28, he was martyred on November 5, 2023, when an Israeli airstrike targeted his family home. Despite his short life, he lived a profoundly meaningful and impactful existence, one that many could not encompass within a lifetime!

Dr. Alrayyes was not only a physician but also an active advocate for public health and a committed humanitarian volunteer. From trauma care training to international health research, he took on multiple roles, establishing himself as a versatile professional. Above all, he regarded the preservation and improvement of human life as a fundamental duty. For him, medicine was not merely a profession but a moral obligation, particularly towards those living under conditions of war, poverty, and blockade. His work in emergency health services, women’s and children’s health, and humanitarian aid education made him a vital figure at the intersection of medicine and social justice.

During his studies in London, he met Dr. Laura Elhayek, a fellow Chevening scholar, who later became his wife. Their relationship was built on mutual respect, shared ideals, and a passion for serving humanity. At the time of his martyrdom, Laura was abroad, and the couple was expecting their first child. The joy of parenthood was tragically replaced with the grief of a future lost before it could even begin.

Maisara’s academic journey began at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. In 2018, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Medicine, quickly becoming known for his intellect and leadership qualities. In 2019, he was awarded the Chevening Scholarship—one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious programs, and began his specialization in Women’s and Children’s Health at King’s College London. For his thesis, he researched how conflict conditions hindered access to maternal and child healthcare in Gaza, a subject that resonated with him both professionally and personally.

His career balanced direct medical interventions in the field with strategic humanitarian leadership. From 2017 to 2019, he worked with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), training medical students in first aid and emergency response. He later served as Emergency Health Program Coordinator at Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), where he helped in designing trauma care systems for health centers in Gaza. Between 2016 and 2017, he chaired IFMSA-Palestine (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations), amplifying the voices of Palestinian medical students in global health discussions and advocating for the right to healthcare under occupation.

Dr. Alrayyes was not content merely to serve, he built systems, raised standards, and left lasting impacts. Through the Chevening Scholarship, he became part of a distinguished global network of leaders effecting change. His research highlighting Gaza’s neglected health crises was published in international peer-reviewed journals. He actively contributed to the training of dozens of young doctors and nurses who continue his legacy today. Even under siege, he spearheaded the development of trauma protocols that kept clinics functioning in Gaza.

His achievements were always grounded in service and social responsibility more than personal prestige.

Beyond hospitals and classrooms, Maisara was intellectually curious. His interests included reading in global health, humanitarian ethics, and emergency medicine; volunteering in youth leadership programs; and participating in health awareness campaigns for disadvantaged communities.

He found meaning in purpose, fulfillment in learning and empowering others, and what truly set him apart was his humanity. Despite being directly exposed to trauma, loss, and war, he dedicated his life to alleviating the suffering of others. After studying abroad, he chose to return home. Following the completion of his master’s degree in the UK, he went back to Gaza. His colleagues recall how, even in times of crisis, he refused to abandon his community. To him, doctors should be in places where suffering is at its highest. He volunteered to train trauma teams, contributed to the establishment of emergency response units, and mentored medical students facing the same hardships he once endured. Amid chaos, he became the embodiment of compassion.

In late 2023, when Gaza was once again engulfed in flames, some professionals chose to leave abroad, but Dr. Maisara chose to stay. He knew the risks but also knew his people needed him. During weeks of bombardment, he worked long hours, supporting overwhelmed health centers filled with injured civilians. He trained nurses and volunteers in trauma triage, coordinated with international NGOs for medical supplies, and fought to keep the health system running under unbearable conditions. He was more than a doctor, he was a leader shining light in the darkness.

His full name was Dr. Maisara Azmi Ibrahim Alrayyes. That name is no longer only the name of a physician, it has been etched into history as a symbol of medical heroism demonstrated on the frontlines. Born into a community long subjected to war and isolation, Dr. Alrayyes’ name has, over time, become synonymous with resistance and sacrifice.

On November 5, 2023, an Israeli airstrike leveled the Alrayyes family home in Gaza City. Maisara, his parents, two sisters, and three nieces and nephews were killed instantly. The following day, as two of his brothers attempted to retrieve the bodies from the rubble, they too were killed in a second strike. The massacre of his entire family resonated worldwide. His wife, Dr. Laura, grieving from afar, found the strength to share their story with the world. Their unborn child will grow up never knowing the father who had already changed so many lives.

The world did not forget him. In the memory of Dr. Maisara Alrayyes, King’s College London, where he had studied, established a Scholarship Fund called “Dr. Maisara Alrayyes Scholarship Fund” to support Palestinian medical students and carry forward his mission. Tributes, memorial events, and moments of silence followed. His colleagues remembered him as “a rare soul,” “a light,” and “a hero in a white coat.” His memory endures in every patient treated by those he trained, in every young student he inspired, and in every voice raised against injustice in his name. Dr. Maisara Alrayyes was not merely a victim of war; he was a fighter for peace, a source of healing amidst destruction, and a man who sacrificed himself for lives yet to be saved.

His story is not only one of tragedy. It is a story of intellect, devotion, and hope. It is the story of a man who, when confronted with pain, declared, “I will stay.” And in a world where humanity is needed more than ever, he gave it his all.

I would like to thank Intern Dr. Yousif Diouck, journalist-author Mustafa Ekici and Sudenaz Coskun for their contributions.

Prof. Dr. Orhan Alimoğlu,

İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi