A Palestinian doctor, Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh, has passed away in an Israeli prison after more than four months in detention, according to Palestinian prisoner associations.
Dr. Al-Bursh, 50, was the head of orthopaedics at al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility. His death was confirmed by the Israeli prison service, which stated that he was detained for national security reasons and died in Ofer prison on April 19.
The cause of his death remains unclear, and an investigation is underway, as per the prison service. However, Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups have labeled Dr. Al-Bursh’s death as an “assassination,” asserting that his body is still in Israeli custody.
Dr. Al-Bursh was detained by Israeli forces while temporarily working at Al-Awada hospital in north Gaza. Colleagues remember him as a compassionate and heroic surgeon, with Dr. Marwan Abu Saada, the director of al-Shifa Hospital, expressing sorrow over his passing.
Dr. Suhail Matar, another colleague, described Dr. Al-Bursh as the “safety valve” for orthopaedic departments across Gaza’s hospitals, noting his dedication and selflessness.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza, expressed alarm over Dr. Al-Bursh’s death and urged concrete measures to protect Palestinians. The White House also emphasized the importance of safeguarding humanitarian workers in Gaza, with President Joe Biden discussing the matter with Israeli officials.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, Dr. Al-Bursh’s death brings the total number of medical workers killed by Israel since the October 7 attack to 496. The ministry also reported injuries and arrests among medical personnel, amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Medical facilities are protected under international law, but Israel has accused Hamas of using them for military purposes, a claim Hamas denies.
