More Than 360 Medical Workers Arrested in Gaza Since October 7

The Palestine Center for Prisoner Studies has documented more than 360 arrests of medical and healthcare personnel in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023. Four of these detained medical workers have died in Israeli prisons from torture and medical neglect.

Israeli authorities have arrested thousands from Gaza since the war began, releasing most but continuing to hold over 3,500 prisoners from the Strip under enforced disappearance policies, according to the Palestine Center. The authorities have made no distinction between humanitarian workers and others, deliberately targeting healthcare workers for arrest despite knowing their professional roles and identities.

The Center reports that this substantial number of healthcare worker arrests demonstrates Israel’s deliberate intent to disrupt Gaza’s health sector operations by detaining doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. While some have been released after experiencing various forms of torture and violations, others remain in detention, including Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza; Dr. Mohammed Obeid, Head of Reconstructive Surgery and Orthopedics at Kamal Adwan Hospital; and Dr. Mohammed Zaher, also from Kamal Adwan Hospital.

During the ground invasion, Israeli forces have stormed numerous hospitals across Gaza, including Kamal Adwan Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, and the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza; Al-Shifa Hospital in central Gaza; and Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. The Palestine Center states that forces evacuated these facilities of patients and wounded, arresting some along with medical personnel.

Israeli forces have also arrested medical personnel while they were conducting rescue missions for those wounded in bombardments of civilian homes. Ambulances have been stopped and searched, with numerous paramedics and emergency medical workers detained.

Four medical personnel arrested during the war have died in Israeli prisons:

• Dr. Adnan Ahmad Al-Bursh, Head of Orthopedics at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, died from severe torture.
• Dr. Iyad Al-Rantisi, 53, Head of Obstetrics at Kamal Adwan Hospital, died from torture four months after his arrest at a military checkpoint inside Gaza.
• Hamdan Hassan Inaya, a Ministry of Health paramedic from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, died as a result of torture.
• Ziyad Mohammed Al-Dalu, a nurse from Al-Shifa Hospital, died from torture.

The Palestine Center emphasizes that international law and conventions prohibit the arrest of healthcare workers, particularly during wars, as they perform life-saving duties and evacuate bodies from targeted areas. Their arrest, which leads to loss of life, constitutes a war crime.

The Center has called on the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières to intervene to stop violations and arrests of medical personnel in Gaza, implement comprehensive protection measures, and work toward releasing detained medical staff. Among the most urgent cases is Dr. Abu Safiya, who has been transferred under the “unlawful combatant” law to Ofer Prison, where he has lost 30 kilograms and developed a skin disease.