Nahed Abdel Latif (Nāhiḍ ‘Abd al-Laṭīf) (ناهض عبد اللطيف), age 51, was a lecturer in the Department of Medical Technology in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at al-Aqsa University in Gaza where he was a highly praised teacher. He also worked as a medical laboratory scientist at al-Shifa’ Hospital.

He was born in Gaza on 15 March 1972. He received his MA degree in Medical Technology from the Islamic University in 2011, and subsequently taught at al-Aqsa University where he also served as chair and vice-chair of the Department of Medical Technology. 

Mr. Abdel Latif taught a wide range of material: he covered bacterial cell structure, immunology, parasitology, and virology among other topics. His students mourned him greatly. He was described by former student Dalia Nader as “one of the best, kindest, favourite and most compassionate doctors who taught me at university. You cannot imagine how generous, kind, and gentle this person is….He was like a father of the female students… My heart is tired of losing the people that we love. They were never numbers, nor will they be. Doctor Nahed will never be a number, neither he nor his family.” Another student, Rahaf Abed, paid tribute to Mr. Nahed Abdel Latif: “A good teacher and father of scholarly stature and a cheerful character…. We have never known you to be anything but kind, generous and honest.” He was widely known as a charming man who always had a smile on his face, someone who was universally loved.

(Mr. Abdel Latif with his wife and children)

On 26 October 2023, Israeli warplanes bombed the homes of the Abdel Latif and the Abu Hasira families on al-Nafaq Street in central Gaza City, killing Mr. Abdel Latif, his wife Umm Muhammad al-Zard, and their children: daughters Nadia, Nada, Noura and Rasha and son Muhammad. Mr. Abdel Latif’s brother was also killed along with his wife and children.