Gaza’s fallen healer: Honoring Dr. Moaz Abo Rokba’s Legacy of Relentless Animal Care

Dr. Moaz Abo Rokba, a 30-year-old veterinarian in Gaza, was known for his relentless commitment to animal care. He was one of the few professionals in the region trained to perform surgical procedures on animals including complex operations. Even after being displaced and losing his clinic, he refused to stop helping injured animals—performing surgeries in the streets, collaborating with rescue groups, and continuing his work under fire. Dr. Moaz was killed by an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the ceasefire in October 2025, while returning to Jabalia to assess damage in his neighborhood. His wife, Rania Abu al-Foul, said, “Everyone in Gaza knew Moaz was innocent. He was only trying to heal animals. And yet, they killed him.”