Physician from Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital dies in Israeli jail | Israel Conflict on Gaza Information

Teams advocating for Palestinian prisoners say Adnan al-Barash, head of orthopaedics, died as a ‘results of torture’.

A distinguished Palestinian physician from Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital has died in an Israeli jail after greater than 4 months of detention, based on the enclave’s well being ministry and teams advocating for Palestinian prisoners.

Adnan al-Barash, the top of orthopaedics at Gaza’s largest medical facility, was detained by Israeli forces whereas quickly treating sufferers at al-Awda Hospital within the north of the territory, the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society stated in a joint assertion on Thursday.

The 2 teams blamed Israel for “killing” one other medical employee and described it as an “assassination”.

Along with his loss of life, Gaza’s Ministry of Well being stated the full variety of medical personnel who’ve been killed since Israel’s battle on Gaza broke out in October has reached 496.

“The killing of Dr al-Barash wouldn’t be the final crime in mild of the entire secrecy of the situation of prisoners in prisons, particularly these arrested from the Gaza Strip,” it stated.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on human rights within the occupied Palestinian territories, stated she was “extraordinarily alarmed” after studying about al-Barash’s loss of life.

“No Palestinian is protected below Israel’s occupation at the moment. What number of extra lives should be taken earlier than UN Member States, particularly these demonstrating real concern for human rights globally, act to PROTECT the Palestinians?”

I’m extraordinarily alarmed by info that Dr. Adnan Albursh, a widely known surgeon at #alshifa_hospital, has died whereas detained by Israeli forces within the Ofer army jail. Whereas I purchase extra info, I URGE the diplomatic neighborhood to intervene with CONCRETE MEASURES to…

— Francesca Albanese, UN Particular Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) May 2, 2024

Al-Barash died on April 19, the prisoners’ teams stated, citing Palestinian authorities. They alleged that his loss of life was “a part of a scientific focusing on of medical doctors and the well being system in Gaza”, including that he died “because of torture”.

The Israeli jail service issued a press release on April 19 saying {that a} prisoner detained for nationwide safety causes had died in Ofer jail. It gave no particulars about the reason for loss of life.

A jail service spokesperson confirmed that the assertion referred to al-Barash and stated the incident was being investigated, the Reuters information company reported.

The Israeli military responded to the AFP information company when requested in regards to the reported loss of life in custody: “We’re at the moment not conscious of such [an] incident.”

 

Al-Barash was “tortured to loss of life by the Israeli military of their secret detention websites. He was an amazing surgeon, energetic,” Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, a British Palestinian surgeon, posted on X.

Abu Sittah, who volunteered in Gaza’s medical services through the first weeks of Israel’s battle and labored on the al-Shifa and al-Alhi Baptist hospitals, wrote that al-Barash was “taken hostage from al-Awda Hospital”, including that “he was overwhelmed to loss of life” by Israeli jail guards.

The homicide of Dr Adnan Al-Bursh in Israeli prisons was a red-line in the identical means the Al-Ahli Hospital bloodbath was. As soon as safely crossed the entire challenge could be rolled out. The lives of over 100 well being staff in prisons are at risk.

— Ghassan Abu Sitta (@GhassanAbuSitt1) May 3, 2024

Docs, hospitals focused

Al-Barash, 50, was arrested with a bunch of different medical doctors in December on the al-Awda Hospital close to the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The prisoners’ rights teams stated his physique was nonetheless being held by the Israeli authorities.

The destiny of the opposite medical doctors stays unknown.

Whereas assaults on medical services and well being staff are banned below worldwide humanitarian legislation, based on the Geneva Conventions, the Israeli army has repeatedly focused them.

The well being ministry stated about 1,500 medical staff have additionally been wounded through the battle, whereas 309 stay imprisoned in Israeli jails.

It referred to as on the worldwide neighborhood and well being and human rights organisations to intervene and defend prisoners held by Israel.

Israel routinely accuses Hamas of utilizing hospitals for army functions and says its operations have been justified by the presence of fighters, but it surely has not supplied any proof to again its claims. Hamas and medical workers deny such allegations.