A prominent Palestinian doctor died while in Israeli police custody just six days after his detention, according to Haaretz. This news comes shortly after the Gaza Health Ministry announced his death.
Dr. Iyad al-Rantisi, 53, head of the women’s hospital section at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, was detained by the Israeli army last November, according to the outlet. He died at Shikma prison, an interrogation facility of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Haaretz reported.
Shin Bet stated they arrested the doctor on suspicion of involvement in hiding Israeli captives, the paper noted.
Dr. Husam Abu Safia, manager of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said al-Rantisi was detained at an army checkpoint while attempting to travel from north to south Gaza, following Israeli military evacuation orders at the start of the war, Safia told Haaretz.
The Israeli Justice Ministry has ordered an investigation into Rantisi’s death.