Mazen Abu Assi

Their life

Mazen Abu Assi, 17, was a Palestinian teenager from Gaza who lost his life in the al-Ahli Hospital explosion on 17 October 2023. He was the eldest son of his family, born after his parents underwent eight years of IVF treatment. Known for his intelligence and dedication to his studies, Mazen was in high school and aspired to become a dentist. His father described him as the brightest of all his children.

Mazen Abu Assi was born in Gaza to parents Arafat and his wife, after they struggled for eight years with infertility and eventually succeeded through IVF treatment. As their firstborn, Mazen was cherished deeply by his family and grew up with a sense of being a special blessing. At 17, he was a high school student with a remarkable academic record and clear ambitions. He dreamed of becoming a dentist, hoping to build a better future for himself and to contribute positively to his community. His father, Arafat, often praised him as the most intelligent of his children, someone who stood out for his dedication and potential. Despite the harsh realities of growing up in Gaza, Mazen remained focused on his education and goals. His promising life and bright future were tragically cut short in October 2023, leaving his family devastated.

How they died

Mazen Abu Assi was killed in the al-Ahli Hospital explosion on 17 October 2023.

On 17 October 2023, Mazen was among the many civilians who perished in the explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The cause of the blast remains highly disputed. Palestinian officials have attributed the tragedy to an Israeli air strike, while the Israeli military claimed it was the result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an allegation the group has denied. The incident became one of the deadliest single events during the conflict, killing hundreds of people, including Mazen, whose death represented both a personal tragedy for his family and a wider symbol of the devastating impact of war on Gaza’s youth.

A plea from the family

Mazen’s father, Arafat Abu Assi, spoke of his son with deep grief, calling him “the brightest of all my children” and sharing that Mazen had hoped to become a dentist. He described the pain of losing not only Mazen but also his younger son Ahmed in the same explosion, emphasizing how close the brothers had been. Arafat and his wife, who endured eight years of IVF treatment before Mazen’s birth, pleaded through their sorrow for the world to recognize the immense suffering of families in Gaza and the loss of young lives full of promise.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Mazen Abu Assi, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources