Palestinian Doctor, 50, Allegedly Dies in Israeli Custody after Torture: Prisoners Groups
Palestinian advocacy groups reported on May 2, 2024, that Dr. Adnan Ahmed Atiya Al-Barsh, the head of orthopedics at Gaza's largest hospital Al-Shifa, died in Israeli custody last month.
The Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee and the Palestinian Prisoners Club made the allegation in a joint statement, claiming that Al-Barsh, 50, had been tortured during his detention.
The Israeli army was not aware of the reported incident when contacted by AFP. Al-Barsh was arrested with a group of other doctors at Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza in December 2023.
Two Palestinian prisoners, identified as Dr. Rasheed Al-Barsh and Ismail Abdel Bari Rajab Khadir, have reportedly died in Israeli custody.
The prisoners' groups claimed that their bodies were being held by Israeli authorities and that evidence suggested they had died due to torture.
Khadir's body was returned to Gaza on Thursday, while Barsh's remains were still being withheld.
The groups accused Israel of targeting doctors and the health system in Gaza and labeled Barsh's death as "murder." The Hamas-ruled health ministry in Gaza reported that 492 health workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began nearly seven months ago.
Eighteen people have died in Israeli custody since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, according to prisoners' groups.
Repeated Israeli military operations around Gaza's hospitals have caused significant damage, despite being protected under international humanitarian law.
The Israeli military alleges Hamas uses hospitals as cover for military operations, but Hamas denies this.
The Al-Shifa hospital, where a doctor named Barsh worked, has been destroyed by Israeli military operations, leaving it as an "empty shell" according to the World Health Organization.
The conflict began with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians.
Israel estimates that 95 captives are still being held by militants in Gaza after militant attacks.
The military reports that 34 of these captives have died.
The Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 34,596 people, with most being women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
The Israeli army was not aware of the reported incident when contacted by AFP. Al-Barsh was arrested with a group of other doctors at Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza in December 2023.
Two Palestinian prisoners, identified as Dr. Rasheed Al-Barsh and Ismail Abdel Bari Rajab Khadir, have reportedly died in Israeli custody.
The prisoners' groups claimed that their bodies were being held by Israeli authorities and that evidence suggested they had died due to torture.
Khadir's body was returned to Gaza on Thursday, while Barsh's remains were still being withheld.
The groups accused Israel of targeting doctors and the health system in Gaza and labeled Barsh's death as "murder." The Hamas-ruled health ministry in Gaza reported that 492 health workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began nearly seven months ago.
Eighteen people have died in Israeli custody since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, according to prisoners' groups.
Repeated Israeli military operations around Gaza's hospitals have caused significant damage, despite being protected under international humanitarian law.
The Israeli military alleges Hamas uses hospitals as cover for military operations, but Hamas denies this.
The Al-Shifa hospital, where a doctor named Barsh worked, has been destroyed by Israeli military operations, leaving it as an "empty shell" according to the World Health Organization.
The conflict began with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians.
Israel estimates that 95 captives are still being held by militants in Gaza after militant attacks.
The military reports that 34 of these captives have died.
The Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 34,596 people, with most being women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
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