1- Muath Talaat Abu Roukba was 30 years old and lived in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. He had studied veterinary medicine at Zagazig University in northern Egypt (Sharqia), where he graduated in 2019, and returned to his home in Jabalia following his father’s death. Instagram @muathtalat. @vet_lifeclinic @vet_lifeclinic
2- In October 2023, Muath left his home in Jabalia with his wife Rania and their children, 3-year-old Yousef and Talat, who was one year and eight months old. He had set up a small veterinary clinic for pets there, but was forced to relocate to Deir Al Balah and then to Al Mawasi due to evacuation orders issued by the IOF. A week later, his home and clinic were bombed.
3- He had worked as a veterinary inspector for the city council for three years, testing meat in markets according to public health requirements. He then worked at the Ministry of Health as an inspector of livestock and food products from farms. In May 2023, he opened a small clinic to treat pets and stray animals.
4- As one of the few veterinarians specializing in surgery, he wanted to help animals. He collaborated with the only animal shelter in the Gaza Strip, Sulaila Animal Rescue, in Gaza City. Founded in 2006 by Saed El Arr, along with his wife Hanim, his daughter Saleen, and his three sons, Sa’ed, Mohammed, and Mubarak. They relocated to Nuseirat and have continued working despite the bombings, siege, and hunger. Instagram @sulalaanimalrescue.
5- Throughout the two years of genocide, he continued to treat animals. Donkey-drawn carts were the primary means of transportation for moving people, belongings, the wounded, and the martyrs due to the siege. On October 9, 2025, following the announcement of the peace agreement, Muath decided to return to Jabalia to see what remained of his home, clinic, and belongings.
6- His brother Abdel Rahman (22 years old) lost phone contact, and they feared he had been kidnapped or killed by the IOF, which still occupied 53% of Gaza with an illegal, shifting “border” of yellow blocks—crossing which was lethal. She was unable to go look for him due to IOF gunfire. News of his disappearance after 9 days went viral on social media. A cousin, Iyad, reported his death on October 19, 2029; he was killed in an Israeli bombing.
Illustrations by Dolores Collado
Full story to print: 044_Muath_english.pdf
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