Authorities in Gaza are calling for an international investigation after Dr Iyad Rantisi, the director of a women’s medical facility in Beit Lahia, died in Israeli detention. Gaza’s government media office condemned his death as an “execution” and a “horrific crime”, part of ongoing crimes against Palestinian medical personnel in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Dr Rantisi was arrested by Shin Bet agents on suspicion of “involvement in holding Israel captives” during the conflict. His family and colleagues only learned of his death after it occurred in Shikma Prison in Israel. This follows the death of Dr Adnan al-Bursh, head of orthopaedic medicine at Al-Shifa Hospital, who died in Israeli custody after being held and tortured.
The ministry of justice in Israel has launched an investigation into Dr Rantisi’s death. Throughout the military campaign in Gaza, over 500 medical staff have been killed, and the health system is on the brink of collapse. The targeting of hospitals and medical facilities has left Gaza’s healthcare system in disarray.