The Sulala Animal Rescue team in Gaza has lost contact with their lead veterinarian Mu’ath Abu Rakba, who has been missing since Friday.
On October 10, he tried to return to his home in the Jabalia neighborhood in northern Gaza. His family and colleagues have received no updates about his whereabouts. Attempts to reach the area have been met with heavy gunfire.
“Unfortunately no news yet about Dr Mu’ath. We sent people to try to reach the place, but it is unreachable. It is on the yellow line, or close to it. And when he went, nobody was sure where the yellow line was exactly. We hope to see him back soon,” Mubarak Al Err from Sulala Animal Rescue said on Wednesday.
The “yellow line” refers to the newly established ceasefire boundary in Gaza. It marks the areas from which Israeli forces are meant to withdraw under the latest agreement.
According to reports by Al Jazeera and The Guardian, this line roughly divides the territory, with Israel keeping control over about half of Gaza while vacating the rest.
However, the exact location of the yellow line remains unclear. It makes it extremely dangerous for civilians and rescue workers to navigate near it.
Many parts of northern Gaza, including Jabalia, fall close to or within this undefined zone. Movement is nearly impossible due to ongoing gunfire and military operations.
Mu’ath is one of only a few veterinarians in northern Gaza capable of performing surgeries on animals. He continued operating under extreme danger in Gaza, often working without electricity, medical supplies, or safe shelter.
His disappearance has sparked deep concern among animal welfare groups and veterinarians around the world.
Animal advocates are calling on international veterinary associations and animal welfare organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to speak out and pressure authorities to locate him.
Sulala Animal Rescue in Gaza
Sulala Animal Rescue, founded by animal advocate Saed al Err, has been the only animal rescue organization operating continuously in Gaza throughout the war, rescuing dogs, cats, donkeys, and farm animals trapped or injured in bombed areas.
Gaza’s animals have suffered enormously from the heavy Israeli attacks in the past two years. Many have been killed or injured in bombings, left starving as food and veterinary aid supplies were cut off, or stranded when owners fled.
Sulala Animal Rescue has repeatedly reported that pets, stray dogs, cats, donkeys, horses and working animals are dying or in critical condition from lack of food, water and medical care.
The total blockade and destruction of infrastructure made it almost impossible to bring in essential veterinary medicines and fodder, leaving many animals untreated even for otherwise survivable injuries.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
