UN expert condemns death of another Palestinian doctor in Israeli detention

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) – A UN expert on Tuesday condemned the death of a third physician from Gaza while in Israeli custody, renewing calls for the protection of health care workers in the occupied Palestinian territory.

“On the cusp of the one-year anniversary of the genocide, I continue to be shocked at Israel’s blatant disregard for the right to health in Gaza and the rest of the occupied territory,” Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, said in a statement.

“Dr. Ziad Eldalou is the third doctor confirmed to have died while being detained by Israel since 7 October 2023,” she said.

Eldalou was an internal medicine physician at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the largest hospital in Gaza, she added.

The doctor was detained along with other healthcare workers, while on duty at Al-Shifa Hospital on March 18 during a raid by Israeli Forces. He reportedly died on March 21, while in detention.

Eldalou is one of more than 885 health care workers reportedly killed in Gaza and the West Bank since last October, she said, adding that many more nurses, paramedics, doctors and other medical personnel have been injured.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 1,043 attacks on health centers in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem since Oct. 7.

“Israel must stop destroying and hindering the already limited functioning of the health system in Palestine, by protecting health care workers,” she said.

“The practice of medicine is never a crime during conflict – but the targeted killing of health care workers is,” the expert said.

The special rapporteur added that the targeting of health care workers and health care facilities contravenes the fundamental right of individuals to access essential health care services, a matter of acute significance during times of conflict, and may constitute a war crime.

According to the WHO, at least another 128 health care workers remain in custody after being arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces while on duty.

Mofokeng demanded the immediate release of all health care workers arbitrarily detained in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and “urgent, independent, and impartial investigations, and accountability for those who have unlawfully detained and killed them.”

She has been in communication with the Israeli government on this matter.