UN expert condemns death of Palestinian doctor in Israeli detention

A United Nations expert has issued a stern condemnation following the death of a third Palestinian doctor while in Israeli custody, renewing urgent calls for the protection of health care workers in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The death of Dr. Ziad Eldalou, an internal medicine physician, marks the latest casualty in what the UN describes as a troubling pattern of targeted violence against medical professionals in the region.

Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, expressed her outrage in a statement on Tuesday, denouncing what she called Israel’s “blatant disregard for the right to health in Gaza and the occupied territories.”

Mofokeng’s comments come just days before the one-year anniversary of escalated conflict between Israel and Gaza in October 2023, which has since left hundreds of health workers dead or detained.

“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,” Mofokeng stated.

Dr. Eldalou, who worked at the Al-Shifa Medical Complex—the largest hospital in Gaza—was reportedly detained by Israeli forces on March 18, 2024, during a raid on the hospital. According to Mofokeng, Eldalou died just three days later, on March 21, while in Israeli detention.

His death follows that of two other Palestinian physicians who have also died in Israeli custody since October 2023, underscoring what Mofokeng described as a “disturbing trend” of violence against medical personnel.

In addition to the deaths, more than 885 health care workers have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the current conflict, according to Mofokeng.

“Many more nurses, paramedics, doctors, and other medical personnel have been injured, and the situation continues to worsen as the conflict drags on,” she added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 1,043 attacks on health centers in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem since the outbreak of violence on October 7, 2023.

Mofokeng criticized Israel’s actions as a direct assault on the already fragile Palestinian health system, noting that the destruction of health infrastructure and the targeting of health workers not only violate international humanitarian law but also severely hinder the ability of Palestinians to access critical medical care.

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

She emphasised that “the practice of medicine is never a crime during conflict – but the targeted killing of health care workers is.”

Mofokeng further warned that such actions could amount to war crimes under international law. She called for “urgent, independent, and impartial investigations, and accountability for those who have unlawfully detained and killed” health care workers.

According to her office, at least 128 other health workers remain in Israeli custody after being arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces while performing their duties.

In addition to calling for the release of these detained medical professionals, Mofokeng has been in communication with Israeli authorities about the ongoing detentions and deaths of health workers.

However, no substantive response has been received from the Israeli government, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the treatment of Palestinians and health care workers during the conflict.

The death of Dr. Eldalou and the continuing crisis in Gaza and the West Bank highlight the broader issue of violence against medical personnel in conflict zones, a violation of international humanitarian law that undermines the right to health and access to medical care.

The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the targeting of health care workers and facilities during armed conflict, a principle that is being flagrantly violated, according to Mofokeng and other international observers.

Since the conflict between Israel and Gaza intensified in October 2023, the health care system in the Palestinian territories has come under severe strain, with hospitals and clinics facing shortages of essential supplies, equipment, and personnel.

The WHO and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for the protection of health infrastructure and personnel, but attacks continue unabated, further deteriorating the health system’s capacity to respond to the ongoing crisis.

The broader context of the violence in Gaza and the West Bank involves long-standing tensions between Israel and Palestine, with recent escalations leading to increased casualties on both sides.

As the conflict persists, humanitarian groups, including the United Nations, have raised alarms about the dire conditions faced by civilians, particularly in Gaza, where the blockade and constant bombardment have left the population with limited access to basic necessities, including health care.

Mofokeng’s statement concluded with a plea to the international community to take decisive action to protect health care workers and uphold international humanitarian law.

“Failure to protect medical professionals and facilities will not only exacerbate the human suffering in Gaza and the West Bank but will also have lasting consequences for the region’s ability to recover from this devastating conflict,” she said.

These statements follow António Guterres warning to a diplomats meeting held in New York for the UN general assembly over imposing a ceasefire in Lebanon given the recent Israli strikes and to hold Israel back from a possible ground invasion.

Guterres statements were followed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan likening Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to Hitler and calling for sanctions or a UN resolution justifying the use of force to deter Israel.

Furthermore, making a valedictory address to the UN general assembly, the US president, Joe Biden, urged Israel against an all-out war, but blamed the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia for attacking Israel after October 7 and for continuing to strike Israel since.

The gathering in New York City comes a week after the UNGA overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year, a move Palestine hailed as “historic”.

Dr. Eldalou’s death serves as a grim reminder of the perils faced by health care workers in conflict zones, and the need for urgent global attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.