Palestinian Doctor Dies in Israeli Detention After Four Months
A Palestinian doctor from the Gaza Strip, Dr. Adnan Ahmad Albursh, has died in Israeli detention after being held for four months, Palestinian officials and detainee rights groups have reported.
Dr. Albursh, 50, the head of orthopedics at Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical center, was detained in December along with other doctors when Israeli forces raided a hospital, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Club.
The Israeli military has confirmed Dr. Albursh’s death on April 19, stating that he had been detained for national security reasons. However, the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Israel has detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, including women and children, with reports of physical abuse and torture in custody. International human rights groups have been denied access to detainees.
Dr. Albursh’s nephew, Khaled Albursh, described him as determined to continue treating his fellow countrymen, even in the face of danger. Human Rights Watch has called for an independent investigation into the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody.
The Israeli military has alleged that Hamas, the Palestinian political and armed group, built a command center in tunnels underneath Al-Shifa Hospital, a claim that has been rejected by Hamas and hospital administrators.
Gaza’s medical system has been under attack since Israel’s bombing campaign in response to a Hamas-led attack in Israel. The World Health Organization has documented numerous attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in fatalities.
Dr. Albursh’s last post on Facebook, dated November 20, read: “We will die standing and we will not kneel.”
The circumstances surrounding Dr. Albursh’s detention and death remain unclear, with prisoner rights groups accusing Israel of abuse and killing him without providing evidence.
