According to Reuters reports, a senior Palestinian doctor passed away in an Israeli prison after over four months of detention, as announced by two Palestinian prisoner associations. The associations squarely blamed Israel for his death.
Adnan Al-Bursh, head of Orthopaedics at Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, was reportedly detained by Israeli forces while working temporarily at Al-Awda Hospital in north Gaza. His death was labeled an “assassination” by the associations, who further stated that his body remained in Israeli custody.
An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that Bursh was declared deceased on April 19 in Ofer prison, where he was detained for national security reasons. However, the spokesperson refrained from commenting on the cause of death.
Medical groups, including the World Health Organization, have consistently urged an end to attacks on Gaza healthcare workers. Insecurity Insight, a research group tracking assaults on aid workers worldwide, estimates that over 200 healthcare workers have been killed in the Gaza conflict thus far.
The Palestinian Health Ministry issued a statement asserting that Bursh’s demise brings the tally of medical sector workers killed by Israel since October 7 to 496. Additionally, it reported 1,500 others wounded and 309 individuals arrested.