Post by : Shweta
Who Is Adam Hamawy? Gaza Volunteer Surgeon Wins US Congressional Election
Adam Hamawy, an Egyptian-born surgeon who volunteered to treat injured people in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war, has won a seat in the United States House of Representatives. Hamawy, a Democrat, defeated Republican candidate Gregg Mele in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District during the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.
His victory makes him New Jersey's first Muslim member of Congress, according to the reported election results. He will succeed Democratic Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is retiring. Hamawy's entry into national politics follows a medical career that included military service, emergency response and humanitarian work in several international crisis zones.
Adam Hamawy's Early Life and Medical Education
Hamawy was born in Cairo, Egypt. His family moved to the United States when he was seven months old. They initially settled in Jersey City before relocating to Old Bridge, New Jersey, where he spent his childhood.
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He studied medicine at Rutgers University and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the same institution. His educational background combined medical training with business studies, before he began a career in military and civilian healthcare.
Eight Years of Service as a US Army Surgeon
Hamawy served for eight years as a surgeon in the United States Army. During his military career, he completed a nine-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 31st Combat Support Hospital during the Iraq War.
According to reports, he operated on hundreds of soldiers and civilians during his deployment. One of the patients was Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, whose helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004. Duckworth has credited Hamawy with helping save her life and later endorsed his congressional campaign.
Hamawy retired from military service in 2011 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 2013, he established a plastic and reconstructive surgery practice in Princeton, New Jersey.
Gaza Medical Mission That Influenced His Political Career
Hamawy's humanitarian medical work began after the September 11 attacks in New York, when he volunteered as a first responder. His subsequent medical missions took him to several countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Jordan, Türkiye, Bosnia, Haiti and Colombia.
In May 2024, he travelled to Gaza as part of a 19-member international medical team. He spent approximately three weeks working at the European Hospital near Khan Younis, treating patients during the ongoing conflict.
According to the reports, the medical team performed approximately 120 surgeries, with more than half involving children. Hamawy also became stranded in Gaza during the mission before eventually returning to the United States.
Returned to Gaza in 2025 for Humanitarian Medical Work
Hamawy returned to Gaza in 2025 to continue providing medical assistance. During this mission, he worked with the Palestinian American Medical Association in coordination with the World Health Organization.
After leaving Gaza in 2024, he also met officials at the White House and on Capitol Hill to share his observations about the humanitarian and medical conditions he had witnessed.
Hamawy has said that his experiences in Gaza influenced his decision to enter politics. In his campaign launch video in January 2026, he explained that entering politics had not originally been part of his plans.
Adam Hamawy's Political Campaign and Key Policy Positions
Hamawy campaigned on several policy priorities, including universal healthcare, cancelling medical and student debt, ending US military aid to Israel and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
His campaign focused on healthcare access, economic concerns and US foreign policy. He also used the slogan "Healthcare not bombs" in a social media post following his primary victory.
In June 2026, Hamawy won a competitive Democratic primary against 11 other candidates in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, a constituency where Democratic candidates have traditionally performed strongly.
What Adam Hamawy's Election Victory Means for New Jersey
Hamawy's victory in the 2026 midterm elections marks a new chapter in his career, moving from military and humanitarian medicine into national legislative politics.
He will represent New Jersey's 12th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, succeeding Bonnie Watson Coleman. His background in surgery, military service and international medical missions is expected to inform his work on healthcare and other policy issues.
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