The family of a prominent doctor from Gaza, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli prison due to torture, has demanded justice over his death.

Adnan al-Bursh, 50, the head of the orthopaedic department at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, was arrested by the Israeli army last December as he treated patients at al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. 

Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted hospitals in Gaza, destroying 26 of the besieged enclave’s 36 hospitals. Israel has killed more than 350 healthcare professionals since launching its military offensive on October 7.

His death was confirmed earlier in the week.

Yazan, al-Bursh’s eldest son, expressed his shock at learning of his father’s fate.

“I didn’t know my father had been martyred, it was a shock,” he said. “Thank God anyway. We belong to God and to Him we return.”

Yazan explained that Adnan had been to the Israeli prisons of Negev, Ofer and Ashkelon before he was killed under torture.

Adnan’s wife, Yasmine, explained how the family moved from Jordan to Gaza: “Adnan told me that he was tired of being abroad after 35 years of exile and decided to return to Gaza to serve his people as he always said.”

Both wife and son called on international organizations to bring justice to the slain doctor.