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Join on Telegram Rabat – The family of Adnan Al Bursh, a Palestinian physician who died in Israeli custody after over four months of detention, has initiated legal action in The Hague to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death and secure the return of his remains.
According to a report from The National, Al Bursh, at the age of 50, held the position of head of orthopedics at Al Shifa. Gaza’s largest hospital has been subjected to relentless fire from the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during their relentless campaign on Gaza.
News of his death within the Israeli-operated Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank, surfaced only on May 2.
Abdallah Al Bursh, Adnan’s nephew, revealed that the family enlisted the aid of a lawyer affiliated with the International Criminal Court to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding his death and to demand the repatriation of his body. The physician’s body remains under Israeli custody.
Al Bursh was apprehended by Israeli forces alongside fellow medical practitioners last December at Al Awda Hospital, where he was temporarily employed, near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
“Adnan was committed to providing aid to patients, but he was compelled to vacate after the Israeli army raided Al Awda Hospital and instructed him to surrender,” his nephew recounted.
Abdallah Al Bursh, found himself stranded at Al Shifa Hospital in November for ten days with his uncle, The National reports.
“Following a ten-day siege by Israeli forces at Al Shifa Hospital, during which food and supplies were denied entry, we were coerced to relocate southward,” he stated. “Adnan, however, refused to comply and opted to brave the risks, relocating north to continue his service at the Indonesian Hospital.”
The ongoing onslaught of IOF aggression has rendered Al Shifa hospital a mere “hollow shell,” as reported by the World Health Organization last month.
“Al Bursh was among those who encouraged others to remain steadfast in the north and not abandon their homes,” Abdallah Al Bursh added. “His wife and six children chose to stay put and are currently seeking refuge in one of the UNRWA schools in northern Gaza.”
Both the Prisoners Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners Club have accused Israel of orchestrating the deliberate assassination of the esteemed surgeon.
The Ministry of Health has decried Al Bursh’s demise and has urged for an immediate investigation into the matter.
The tally of physicians killed by Israeli forces has climbed to 492 since October 7, as per the Gazan health ministry.
“My uncle sustained injuries during our time at the Indonesian Hospital when Israeli forces besieged us for four days while he was performing surgery,” Abdallah Al Bursh recalled.
He continued; “on the fourth day, Israeli forces stormed the hospital inquiring about my uncle, Dr. Mirwan Al Bursh, my father, and other medical personnel. Fortunately, a ceasefire was brokered the following day, sparing them from capture.”
After the ceasefire, Al Bursh resumed his duties at Al Awda Hospital, only to be encircled by Israeli troops, who demanded his surrender under threat of destruction. He was subsequently apprehended.
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