Omar Hayek
Omar Hayek was killed during an attack carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Omar was killed while standing at a bus stop in Deir Al-Balah, preparing to travel to the MSF field hospital. All staff, including Omar, were wearing MSF vests, clearly marking them as medical humanitarian workers. The attack occurred less than two weeks after another MSF colleague, Hussein Alnajjar, was also killed by Israeli forces in the same region.
Biography
Omar Hayek, 42, was a dedicated occupational therapist who worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Gaza since June 2018. Known for his quiet nature, profound kindness, and professional commitment, Omar dedicated his life to restoring strength and dignity to thousands of patients in Gaza City. Following relentless attacks and forced displacement, he moved south to Deir Al-Balah, where he continued his humanitarian work. Omar was the sole provider for his family after the death of his father and the killing of his young brother.
Born around 1983, Omar Hayek began his humanitarian career as an occupational therapist, joining MSF in June 2018. For five years, he worked tirelessly at an MSF clinic in Gaza City, helping patients regain independence and physical abilities in extremely challenging conditions. Despite the increasing violence and displacement in Gaza, Omar remained committed to serving the community. He was forced to evacuate to southern Gaza in September 2025 due to ongoing Israeli attacks, which were claimed to provide safety for displaced residents. Omar tragically lost his life on his way to the MSF field hospital in Deir Al-Balah while waiting at a bus stop with colleagues, all wearing MSF vests. Known for his humility, quiet dedication, and professional excellence, Omar leaves behind a grieving family who relied on him as their primary provider.
Additional Information
Sources & References
This morning, an attack carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza, Palestine, killed our Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) colleague, Omar Hayek, and seriously injured four others. The attack took place on a street where our teams were waiting to take a bus to the MSF field hospital in Deir Al-Balah. All staff were wearing MSF vests, clearly identifying them as medical humanitarian workers. We express deep sorrow and outrage over the killing, which occurs less than two weeks after another MSF colleague, Hussein Alnajjar, was killed by the Israeli forces, in Deir Al-Balah. Our thoughts are with Omar’s family and colleagues at this tragic time. Omar, 42 years old, is the fourteenth MSF colleague to be killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023. Omar was a quiet man of profound kindness and utter professionalism. Since June 2018, he had worked as an occupational therapist at an MSF clinic in Gaza City, dedicating his life to restoring strength and dignity to thousands of patients. He remained in Gaza City before finally evacuating south on 13 September, due to relentless attacks and forced displacement from Israeli forces, who claimed people would find safety there. Instead, he was killed at a bus stop on his way to work. Omar was the sole provider for his family since his father passed away and his young brother was killed.1 msf.org Open source