Dr. Mohammed Adwan (Muḥammad al-‘Udwān) (محمد العدوان) was a trailblazing Palestinian physician, gastroenterologist, and humanitarian who served the people of Gaza with unwavering dedication for nearly five decades. He was born on 22 June 1951 and remained committed to the healing profession throughout his lifetime.

Dr. Adwan was a pioneer in the field of internal medicine and gastroenterology in the Gaza Strip. He was the first physician to introduce endoscopy to Gaza, a groundbreaking medical advancement that transformed the diagnostic and treatment landscape of gastrointestinal diseases in the region. For over 40 years, he worked selflessly in Gaza’s strained health care system, treating countless patients under the shadow of siege, war, and occupation.

Despite suffering from chronic heart disease, Dr. Adwan continued to serve patients until his last day. During the 2023 war on Gaza, he was forced to evacuate on foot from his home due to heavy bombardment. While evacuating southward on 13 November 2023, he was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper. He was 72 years old. His children carried his body on foot for more than 20 kilometers across a devastated landscape, toward the south of the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Adwan’s life was marked not only by his medical legacy but also by personal sacrifice. He was the father of two martyrs, and yet remained resilient in his service to humanity. His values and spirit of healing live on through his children. Three of his sons became doctors, including Dr. Mustafa Adwan, a respected lecturer in anatomy in London. Mustafa’s wife is also a physician, continuing the family tradition of medical service.

Colleagues and patients alike remember Dr. Adwan as a gentle, brilliant, and profoundly dedicated physician who practiced medicine not just as a career, but as a moral calling. His decades of innovation, mentorship, and compassion will not be forgotten.

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