Mourning a Palestinian pioneer in medical charity work

A number of leading medical organisations, figures as well as charities have offered their condolences to Dr Ali Meshaal, who died yesterday morning in the Jordanian capital city Amman.

Dr Ali Meshaal

Meshaal, a diabetes and endocrinology specialist is one of the pioneers of the Islamic Hospital in Jordan and one of its early founders.

He was active in charitable work through his contribution to the establishment of specialised humanitarian bodies in the medical field, such as the Medical Aid for Palestinians. He was also a member of the Jordanian Committee for the Treatment of Palestine Patients.

Meshaal played an important role in the medical relief work in the world, especially in Palestine, where he contributed to the preparation of a number of humanitarian medical convoys heading to the besieged Gaza Strip during the past years.

Read: New companies benefit from Jordanian initiative to guarantee funds

The convoys provided medicine, materials and medical supplies to hospitals and health centres in the Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade for more than 11 years.

Dr Meshaal is credited with opening channels of communication, establishing networks to link Islamic hospitals in different countries of the world, as well as his distinguished contributions to many specialised international conferences.

In a statement to Insan Online, Dr Essam Youssef, head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza Strip, offered his condolences, referring to Meshaal as one of the pioneers of charity and humanitarian work in the medical field.

Youssef said that he was “honoured to meet the deceased and work with him in health organisations supporting the Palestinians, where he played a role in creating training opportunities for Palestinian medical staff and staff at the Islamic Hospital in Jordan.”

“Dr Meshaal was a forerunner of medicine in Jordan and in the world, an example of morality and humility, and a good man who did not spare any effort, time, and money is providing what he could to support the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and wherever else they are located, both at home and abroad.”