IDF kills ‘central figure’ in PIJ’s rocket array, Doctor’s Without Borders condemns ‘killing of our colleague’

Complicity of doctors in terror activities has been a focus throughout the war

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An Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft on Tuesday struck and eliminated Fadi Al-Wadiya, who the IDF says “served as a significant operative in the [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.”

According to the IDF, Al-Wadiya's role in PIJ was to develop and advance the terror group's rocket array and was reportedly a central figure due to his extensive knowledge of electronics and chemistry.

Several hours later, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) [Doctors Without Borders] posted a statement to 𝕏 announcing Al-Wadiya’s death, stating: “We are outraged and strongly condemn the killing of our colleague.”

We are outraged and strongly condemn the killing of our colleague, Fadi Al-Wadiya, in an attack this morning in Gaza City.

The attack killed Fadi, along with 5 other people including 3 children, while he was cycling to work, near the MSF clinic where he was providing care. pic.twitter.com/Lmd8E5AkC1
— MSF International (@MSF) June 25, 2024

MSF’s operations manager for Palestine said, “Killing a healthcare worker while on his way to provide vital medical care to wounded victims of the endless massacres across Gaza is beyond shocking; it’s cynical and abhorrent.”

The IDF responded with a tweet of its own: “Always check to see who you’re hiring…Your colleague, Fadi Al-Wadiya, was a significant terrorist in Islamic Jihad.”

Always check to see who you’re hiring…

Your colleague, Fadi Al-Wadiya, was a significant terrorist in Islamic Jihad. He advanced the terrorist organization’s rocket array, also known as a way to endanger the lives of civilians.

He is just another case of terrorists in Gaza… https://t.co/eRTDPVGcoF
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 25, 2024

Since the start of the war, the targeting of doctors in airstrikes has been raised by several groups, including MSF, which claims that Israel has killed six of its staff since Oct. 7.

However, the IDF has identified several doctors who were killed as members of terror groups, including Hamas and PIJ. After the rescue of four Israeli hostages at the beginning of the month, it was discovered that the three male hostages were being held in the home of Ahmed al-Jamal, a doctor with ties to Hamas.

In December, a report by Alain Destexhe, a Belgian doctor and the former secretary-general of Doctors Without Borders in the early 1990s, stated the NGO has “a systematic bias in favor of Hamas and hostility to Israel” and that it violates its own charter.

The report also revealed that many MSF workers praised the Oct. 7 attacks and Hamas in the days immediately following.

After the first hostage exchange deal in late November, several hostages testified they were held captive in the homes of doctors and UNRWA workers in Gaza.

The United Nations has warned Israel that it may have to cease operations in Gaza out of concern for their staff working in the Strip.