Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) mourns the killing of Osama Al-Bali, a dedicated paramedic who served at MAP’s Solidarity polyclinic in Gaza. Osama, his wife, and their 13-year-old son were killed on 27 March 2025 when Israeli forces shelled their tent in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. His brother’s family was also killed in the attack. MAP unequivocally condemns this attack and demands the immediate protection of all healthcare workers and civilians in Gaza.
Osama had already lost his home to Israel’s military bombardment and was sheltering his family in a tent beside its rubble when the attack occurred. This killing is another example of the indiscriminate violence being inflicted on Palestinian families, healthcare workers, and those attempting to survive what has been plausibly called a genocide by UN human rights experts and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Ahmad Al-Tarhouni, a paramedic and one of Osama’s colleagues, said: “I called him last night to check on him because the situation was extremely difficult in Beit Lahia, with bombardment everywhere. Osama told me he was worried, as most people had fled the area, leaving only a few families behind. I urged him to be cautious and leave, but he replied: ‘I have no choice. Where would I go? What can I do? I will stay here, and whatever is destined to happen will happen.’”
“This morning, I was devastated by the news that Osama had been killed. Osama was kind-hearted. He often spoke of his dream to live in a safe place, free from all of this bombardment. He longed to settle with his family and build a small farm on his land, growing vegetables and working in nature. His only wish was to live in peace and stability.”
Fikr Shalltoot, MAP’s Gaza Director, said: “The killing of Osama and his family in Gaza is yet another devastating act committed by the Israeli military. Paramedics and healthcare workers dedicate their lives to saving others, yet the Israeli military callously takes their lives in an attempt to further dismantle and destroy Gaza’s health system. How many more doctors, nurses, and paramedics must be killed before the world takes action?”
Since Israel’s renewed military bombardment on Gaza on 18 March, at least 855 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,860 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The overall death toll from Israel’s military offensive has risen to more than 50,200, and 113,910 have been injured since October 2023, with tens of thousands more presumed dead beneath the rubble. This includes at least 1,060 healthcare workers killed.
We urge the international community, including the UK Government, to act now to enforce an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to all arms sales to Israel, and full accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. The UK must not be an ally to Israel’s atrocities, and the targeting of paramedics and medical staff must not be allowed to continue with impunity.