Gaza Herald – The Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners has sounded the alarm over Israel’s continued detention of 24 doctors from Gaza, held under brutal and inhumane conditions that have already resulted in the deaths of two prominent medical professionals.
In a statement released on Sunday, the center confirmed that the detainees have endured systematic abuse and torture at the hands of Israeli prison authorities, culminating in the deaths of Dr. Adnan Al-Barsh and Dr. Iyad Al-Rantisi, both of whom succumbed to the consequences of extreme torture. These incidents underscore what human rights organizations describe as a deliberate campaign targeting Gaza’s medical infrastructure and those who sustain it.
The center urgently appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations, demanding immediate intervention to secure the release of the detained doctors and to halt the ongoing persecution of healthcare workers. It stressed that the arrests of medical professionals not only violate international humanitarian law but also constitute a direct assault on Gaza’s already collapsing health system.
Systematic Targeting of Healthcare Workers
The Palestinian Center cited reports from the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Physicians for Human Rights, all of which document widespread torture, degrading treatment, and psychological abuse inflicted on healthcare professionals detained by Israeli forces. These abuses include prolonged solitary confinement, denial of legal counsel, and violent interrogations aimed at extracting coerced confessions or intelligence.
“The detention of doctors is part of a systematic policy to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare capacity,” the statement read. “Israel is weaponizing arrests and torture to deprive civilians of medical care at a time of unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”
Wider Crackdown on Gaza’s Medical Sector
Since October 2023, over 400 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff, have been detained, according to the center’s statistics. While some have been released through prisoner exchanges or sporadic releases, none of them have faced formal charges, reinforcing accusations of arbitrary detention designed to terrorize and neutralize Gaza’s medical workforce.
The loss of medical personnel has had catastrophic consequences for Gaza’s hospitals, many of which operate under siege conditions with dwindling supplies and relentless bombardment. International observers have warned that the systematic targeting of healthcare workers exacerbates a humanitarian crisis already marked by famine, disease outbreaks, and a near-total collapse of medical services.
International Outrage and Calls for Action
Global rights groups have condemned these practices as flagrant violations of the Geneva Conventions, which obligate occupying powers to protect medical personnel and facilities during armed conflict. Physicians for Human Rights Israel described the deaths of Dr. Al-Barsh and Dr. Al-Rantisi as “emblematic of a pattern of lethal neglect and deliberate abuse in Israeli detention centers.”
The Palestinian Center further warned that if international organizations fail to intervene decisively, more lives will be lost. “Doctors are being punished simply for doing their jobs, treating the wounded and saving lives in Gaza,” it stated.
As the humanitarian disaster in Gaza deepens, the plight of these detained doctors stands as a stark reminder of the broader campaign to cripple essential services and break civilian resilience. The center’s call to the WHO and UN demands urgent attention, placing the responsibility squarely on the international community to hold Israel accountable and secure the release of these medical professionals.
