Occupation Conceals His Martyrdom for 7 Months: Dr. Iyad Al-Rantissi’s Story Ignites Anger on Social Media

Watan-“With great pride and honor, I announce the martyrdom of my beloved father.” With these emotional words, the daughter of Dr. Iyad Al-Rantissi declared the death of her father, the head of the maternity department at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. He passed away in Israeli prisons a week after his arrest in November.

Medical sources informed Al Jazeera on Tuesday about Dr. Al-Rantissi’s martyrdom, more than a month and a half after the death of prominent Palestinian doctor Adnan Al-Barsh in the occupation prisons was revealed.

Israeli media reported that Dr. Al-Rantissi died in an Israeli interrogation center operated by the internal security service (Shin Bet) in Ashkelon.

Shin Bet claimed that the 53-year-old doctor was accused of “taking hostages,” although no official statement has been issued by the Israeli army or Shin Bet regarding Al-Rantissi’s death.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Magistrate’s Court in Ashkelon issued an order following Al-Rantissi’s death, prohibiting the publication of any details about the case for six months. This order expired last May.

Expressions of anger flooded social media platforms after the news of Dr. Al-Rantissi’s martyrdom was released. One commenter stated, “The doctor is kidnapped from among his patients and disappeared in prisons without charges.”