Today, we received with great anguish and anger, the grim news of killing Dr Iyad Ahmed Mohammed Al-Rantisi, 53 years old, inside Shikma Israeli Prison.
Dr Iyad Al-Rantisi is a renowned Consultant Obstetrician and gynaecologist, and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital at Kamal Adwan Medical Complex, North Gaza.

Dr Al-Rantisi had to evacuate Kamal Adwan Hospital after its invasion to Al-Shifa Hospital to continue his life-saving duty, then again, he had to evacuate Al-Shifa Hospital after its first invasion to the Southern hospitals through the so-called Israeli designated “safe route” as per the Israeli orders.
As per an eyewitness, Dr Al-Rantisti was shot on 10th November 2023 by an Israeli soldier at the Netzarim Military Checkpoint and then he was kidnapped to an unknown place. His family and colleagues have not heard about him since then.

Today, An Israeli newspaper announced Dr Al-Rantisi “died” on 17th November 2023 at Shikma prison; a detention and torture facility that belongs to the Israeli Security Agency “Shin Bet” in the Southern part of the occupied Al-Majdal – now called “Ashqelon”.
The Israeli Occupation Forces banned publishing about this war crime by the occupation court order. Dr Al-Rantisi’s body has been in the Israeli detention for more than 7 months to hide the main evidence on this brutal crime!

Today, we figured out that Dr Adnan Al-Bursh was not the first Palestinian healthcare worker killed inside Israeli prisons since the beginning of Gaza genocide. The news of killing Dr Al-Rantisi and Dr Al-Bursh raise serious concerns about the fate of hundreds of Palestinian healthcare workers unlawfully detained in Israeli prisons.

We at Healthcare Workers Watch – Palestine hold IOF accountable for the execution of Dr Al-Rantisi and the killing of other 541 healthcare workers to date, and we call for an independent investigation about the detention circumstances of hundreds of healthcare workers in Israeli prisons. We call all the concerned international organisations to take their responsibilities regarding the safety of Palestinian healthcare workers.
Enough is enough!!

Healthcare workers must not be a target. Healthcare workers must be respected and protected.