Surgeon Adam Hamawy, who previously volunteered in Gaza, has won the Democratic primary to represent New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District in the United States. Hamawy worked as a volunteer surgeon in 2024 at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Despite orders from Israeli forces to evacuate, he refused to abandon his colleagues and patients.

In a joint statement, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) Policy Project and Justice Democrats said voters chose Dr. Hamawy, who personally witnessed the realities of Israel’s actions in Gaza. They described his efforts to save Palestinian children amid bombings and extreme conditions. The two organizations, which financially supported his campaign, also stated on social media that the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) had unsuccessfully tried to influence voters against him.

The victory highlights growing attention to candidates with direct humanitarian experience in conflict zones and signals a challenge to established lobbying influence in U.S. politics.