The Defiant Doctor: Abdulkerim Al-Raqab

Zionism and similar malicious constructs not only manipulate and distort human thought, but also deform solid structures like geography through similar means. The relationship between people and their land is profoundly different from what these sinister ideologies imagine. Take Gaza, for example — which entered the world’s conscience due to some of the most barbaric massacres in history carried out by Zionists. Gaza is not, in reality, a simple rectangle on a map. There is no such rectangular shaped piece of land in Gaza. Gaza is a ‘home’ — a living, breathing space that has for thousands of years connected its people with Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, and even more distant places. The current rectangular borders are an artificial nightmare imposed by the Zionists: a rootless, forced separation from the human essence.

The Zionist terror transplanted from Europe and other parts of the world first tried to uproot the native people of Palestine who rooted in the land through massacres, deception, and fear. Yet the bond between people and land is something alien to those frozen in history, unable to comprehend the depth of such a connection. Gaza is, in fact, a massive refugee camp, designed by the sick minds of Zionism to confine tens of thousands of Palestinians forcibly displaced from various parts of Palestine. Later, after removing Jewish settlements placed there, Gaza was encircled with barbed wire, military fortresses, and towering walls — turning it into the largest open-air prison in the world. Now, failing to tear apart the resilient ties between the people and their land, Zionists resort to unimaginable brutality: bombardments, starvation, thirst, and sheer inhumanity, hoping, in a final act of desperation, to erase this bond entirely.

The story of Gaza — this beacon of resilience rooted in the soil — must be told. Through art, literature, cinema, music, science — through every possible medium — we must speak of what humanity has created here: meaning, ideals, dignity, existence itself. This genocide and what happened in the 77 years leading up to it in Gaza and Palestine are one of the brightest and heart wrenching stories of the struggle of becoming and remaining human that belongs to humanity.

There are thousands and millions of nameless heroes, victims without a doubt -each of them deserving to be remembered, told to the next generations of humanity. Today I want to share with you the story of one such hero: Dr. Abdulkerim Al-Raqab.

Dr. Abdulkerim Al-Rakeb

Born on November 30, 1989, in Gaza to a refugee family, Dr. Abdulkerim married nurse Tasneem Mohammed Saleh Al-Agha. Together, they had two daughters, Maria (6 years old) and Tuline (4 years old).

From a young age, Dr. Abdulkerim was known for his diligence and discipline. He graduated first in Khan Yunis with an impressive 98% in his high school exams. He pursued his medical degree at the Islamic University of Gaza and later obtained his specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Palestinian Medical Council.

Throughout his career, Dr. Abdulkerim served in numerous hospitals and medical centers: Al-Helal Al-Emirati Maternity Hospital in Rafah, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Kuwait Hospital in Rafah, Dar Al-Salam Hospital in Khan Yunis, Dr. Saif Barbakh Clinic in Rafah, Al-Huda and Aman Clinics in Bani Suhaila, and Naseema Al-Rifai Clinic in Abasan. Amidst his demanding schedule, he also taught anatomy at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Khan Yunis.

Dr. Abdulkerim, the day he graduated, shared his pens and notebooks he used throughout his education period with friends.

Dr. Abdulkerim was known for his kindness and high moral character. He always greeted his patients with warmth and compassion. He never saw them as mere cases; he understood their struggles, patiently explained their conditions, and offered them reassurance, helping them to feel at ease. Dr. Abdulkerim was generous about anything — whether it was his time, his energy, or even small things. He often carried chocolates in his pocket, offering them to patients, healthcare workers, and anyone he encountered — a small gesture that he made in order to bring smiles to many faces.

His wife, Nurse Tasneem, describes him as follows:  "He was extraordinary, not just in his work, but in how he treated his colleagues. As a senior doctor, everyone loved working with him. He was not just a leader in the department, but someone who appreciated and encouraged his team, fostering a true spirit of camaraderie. In the operating room, he was a true artist — precise in his diagnoses, courageous in his decisions, and admired by all."

Dr. Abdulkerim was not only a doctor; he was a symbol of dedication and generosity. He actively served his community, both through his medical work and through his role within the Al-Raqab family. No matter the field, he never hesitated to help others, earning the love of people of all ages.

Despite countless hardships and tempting opportunities abroad, he never considered leaving his homeland. He believed in his country. He endured hardships with unwavering resilience, being content with little, finding happiness not in escape, but in patience, resistance, and devotion to his homeland. When war forced him to flee his home in Bani Suhaila to seek shelter in Rafah, he continued to return to his home whenever possible — braving all dangers to check on his property, organize essentials, and bring supplies to his displaced family. His heart remained bound to his land, his family, and his home, no matter the circumstances he couldn’t stay away from them.

Even under the direst conditions, Dr. Abdulkerim never wavered in his dedication. During the war, he tirelessly worked at the Nasser Medical Complex, walking long distances each day to reach the hospital despite all the dangers and carried out his mission on exhausting shifts for countless hours. After being displaced from Bani Suhaila to Rafah, he continued his daily trek to serve his patients, placing their lives above all else.

Nurse Tasneem recounts her husband’s devotion to his profession and people:  "During one of the most dangerous moments, when the Israeli army entered the Al-Nasawi Cemetery which is vert close to the and the hospital became extremely unsafe, Abdulkerim refused to leave. He stood his ground and continued his mission despite all risks, demonstrating once again his unwavering commitment to humanity and the profession he loved."

On March 5, 2024, Dr. Abdulkerim Al-Raqab was martyred, leaving behind a legacy of devotion and sacrifice. While walking from Rafah toward his place of duty, still wearing his white medical coat, he was deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli forces. His family and loved ones endured six agonizing days without news, clinging to hope that he might still be alive.

After days of searching, they finally found him — his body standing in silent dignity, at peace, honored by a life of service.

Dr. Abdulkerim was not merely a doctor; he was a man of integrity, bravery, and unwavering loyalty to his homeland until his last breath. Though he is no longer with us, he has left a permanent mark on the hearts of his patients, colleagues, and everyone who heard his inspiring story. Until the very end, he lived with resilience, patience, and unwavering devotion to his country and profession.

May Allah have mercy on Dr. Abdulkerim Al-Raqab and grant him the highest ranks in Paradise.

I would like to thank medical students Amro Al Sbakhi and, Sudenaz Coskun and journalist-author Mustafa Ekici for their contributions.