Dr. Tarek Abu Arar, a Muslim physician who typically comes to the aid of others, found himself in a harrowing situation when he was shot and held hostage by Hamas terrorists posing as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers during a surprise attack.

Who is Dr. Tarek Abu Arar?

Dr. Abu Arar, a 33-year-old volunteer with United Hatzalah, was en route to his shift in the ER at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, a city near the Gaza border, when the attack unfolded.

As he approached a junction near Sderot, Dr. Abu Arar encountered someone who appeared to be injured next to a 4×4 vehicle. At that time, there were no reports of infiltration, but he had heard the “red alert” siren earlier, prompting him to wear his bulletproof vest. Believing it to be a routine car accident, he decided to provide assistance.

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However, the situation took a terrifying turn when he realized he had been deceived. A person in an IDF uniform, about 160 feet away, gestured for his help. When he got closer, he was suddenly shot in the chest. He recalls shouting and praying, thinking that he had been mistaken for a terrorist.

Dr. Abu Arar soon realized that he was in the hands of Hamas terrorists. Approximately ten more individuals in military attire emerged from the bushes, wearing uniforms similar to the IDF’s, and began interrogating him in Arabic. They took him hostage and positioned him in the center of the junction.

During the two hours of captivity, the terrorists began shooting at passing cars, causing casualties. Dr. Abu Arar was shot in the leg at close range and feared the next bullet would be in his head, while he bled profusely. He prayed for a miracle, believing his life was in grave danger.

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Fortunately, about 45 minutes after the IDF forces withdrew, a Yamam commando unit, Israel’s National Counter Terror Unit, arrived, eliminating the terrorists and rescuing Dr. Abu Arar. They applied a tourniquet to his leg before transporting him to Soroka Hospital for treatment, from which he was later released. His courageous ordeal highlights the chaos and danger that innocent individuals faced during the conflict with Hamas.