On November 21, 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) claimed that three doctors were killed as a result of a strike that hit Al-Awda hospital in Gaza. According to MSF, two of the doctors, Mahmoud Abu Nujaila and Ahmad Al-Sahar, were employed by MSF; the third, Ziad Al-Tatari, was employed by AWDA.

NGO Monitor research shows that Al-Awda hospital is run by an NGO linked to the  PFLP terror group, AWDA Health and Community Association (formerly known as the Union of Health Work Committees, or UHWC). More disturbingly, Abu Nujaila was the head of the PFLP’s health group, the Democratic Health Association (at least as of December 2018), and before and during his employment by MSF, Mahmoud Abu Nujaila openly supported the PFLP and its violent actions, along with other terrorists who brutally killed Israelis. Al-Sahar and Al-Tatari also used social media to express their support for terror and the Hamas October 7th atrocities, respectively.

Mahmoud Abu Nujaila

According to his Facebook page, at the time of his death and since 2020, Abu Nujaila was employed by MSF. Abu Nujaila was also employed by AWDA from 2013 until his death. Abu Nujaila noted that he was a medical officer in UNRWA in 2013-2017. 

NGO Monitor research demonstrates that Abu Nujaila used social media to express his support for the PFLP and terrorism in general. For example:

• On October 17, 2021, Abu Nujaila shared a picture of a handwritten stylized text in a notebook that read, “October 17th, when the [gun] silencer cried in joy.” Abu Nujaila wrote, “It was the prettiest day, it was the PFLP’s response, and it was the decree of the people.” He added victory and heart emojis. On October 17, 2001, a PFLP cell directed by PFLP Secretary-General Ahmad Sa’adat assassinated Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi.

Abu Nujaila celebrated the PFLP’s assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi.

• Similarly, on October 17, 2019, Abu Nujaila wrote, “As we remember October 17th, we shall not forget those who surrendered the men who carried it out, and we shall not forgive. #The_security_coordination_is_betrayal.”
• On October 17, 2019, Abu Nujaila shared an official PFLP poster featuring a PFLP terrorist and the text, “Our bullets have grown in numbers and our rifles have not yet rusted. October 17th – the first assassination operation of a Zionist minister in the history of the Palestinian revolution.”

Abu Nujaila shared an official PFLP poster praising the PFLP’s assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi.

• On August 27, 2019, Abu Nujaila shared a poster featuring former PFLP Secretary-General Abu Ali Mustafa and the text “The moon of martyrs.” Abu Nujaila wrote, “We have returned to resist, not to negotiate.”

Abu Nujaila shared a poster of former PFLP Secretary-General Abu Ali Mustafa and the text “The moon of martyrs.” Abu Nujaila wrote, “We have returned to resist, not to negotiate.”

• On February 23, 2019, Abu Nujaila shared the PFLP’s logo and an official statement by the PFLP, calling for a “real national unity” and an “end to the division.”
• In December 2018, in celebration of its 51st anniversary of its establishment, the PFLP held a “free health day” in Gaza district’s southern area in cooperation with its official health group, the Democratic Health Association. According to the PFLP, at the time, Abu Nujaila was the head of the Democratic Health Association.
• On December 13, 2018, Abu Nujaila shared a poster featuring Saleh Barghouti and Ashraf Na’alwa, with the text “the legend.” Abu Nujaila wrote, “You two have glory in heaven. The [Palestinian] Authority of the military coordination has only shame and disgrace.”  
  • Barghouti carried out a December 8, 2018 shooting attack, claimed by Hamas, wounding eight, including a pregnant woman whose injuries lead to the premature birth of her baby, who later died.
  • Na’alwa brutally murdered civilians Kim Levengrond Yehezkel and Ziv Hagbi in an October 7, 2018 shooting in the Barkan industrial zone. Levengrond was handcuffed by Na’alwa before he executed her at point blank range.

Abu Nujaila shared a poster and praised two terrorists.

• On July 29, 2018, Abu Nujaila shared an official PFLP eulogy poster featuring two of its terrorists, Ayman Al-Najjar and Muhannad Hamuda, and wrote, “What a heartache. May your spirits have glory.”
  • Al-Najjar and Hamuda died in an explosion when they were preparing to launch a rocket at Israeli territory.

Abu Nujaila shared an official PFLP eulogy poster and wrote, “What a heartache. May your spirits have glory.”

• On February 6, 2018, Abu Nujaila shared a poster featuring Saleh Barghouti with an automatic rifle and the text, “He shook Israel’s security and terrified it.”

Abu Nujaila praised the terrorist Saleh Barghouti.

Ahmad Al-Sahar 

According to Ahmad Al-Sahar’s Facebook page, at the time of his death and since April 2023, he was employed by MSF. He was also a medical officer in UNRWA until his death. 

During his employment at MSF, Al-Sahar eulogized two Hamas terrorists:

On April 28, 2023, Al-Sahar shared a photo of a Hamas “field commander” Mohammed Attallah Al-Sahar, along with a picture of his father in military uniform, and wrote, “Yesterday it was his father and now it is him. May Allah have mercy on them and accept them [in heaven] as martyrs.”

Al-Sahar eulogizing two Hamas terrorists.

Ziad Al-Tatari

Ziad Al-Tatari was employed as a doctor by AWDA Health and Community Association at the time of his death.

On October 7, 2023, Al-Tatari wrote, “The army that cannot be defeated, is weaker than a spider web. Oh Allah be with us…” Al-Tatari was echoing a well-known quote from Hezbollah Head Hasan Nasrallah, “Israel is weaker than a spider web.”