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A prominent Gaza surgeon has died in an Israeli prison after being detained for more than four months, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the Palestinian Prisoners Society and the Commission for Detainees’ Affairs said Dr. Adnan al-Bursh, 50, who was head of orthopedics at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, was found dead in an Israeli prison. Had declared. Officials on April 19.

According to the statement, al-Bursh was detained along with 10 other medical staff during an Israeli military strike in Jabalya in December last year, where he was treating patients at Al Awda Hospital at the time.

Prisoner unions blamed Israel for his death and said it was part of a “systematic process of attacks against doctors and the health system in Gaza”.

According to the statement, Israeli authorities have not yet handed over his body.

CNN has contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.

Dr. Marwan Abu Saada, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, told CNN that Dr. Al-Bursh’s death was “heartbreaking for everyone, for his family, for the medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital and for Dr. Adnan’s patients.” It was shocking news.” ,

He said, “This is the last thing we expected, and it is difficult for the human soul to bear this news. Some time ago I was in the mourning home, where his family is immersed in deep grief and cannot believe it.” Is getting.”

He added, “Dr. Adnan loved life, he was cheerful and everyone loved him.”

Saada said he had previously asked Israeli authorities about his friend’s arrest but “received no news.”

However, he claimed that another prisoner released from the same prison said that al-Bursh was tortured and killed.

CNN cannot independently verify claims that al-Bursh was tortured during detention.

However, testimony from dozens of Palestinians freed by Israel in recent months has condemned Israel’s widespread use of physical and psychological abuse against detainees during the Gaza war.

The IDF has previously said it treats all detainees in accordance with international law.

An unpublished UN report obtained by CNN describes beatings, sleep deprivation, sexual abuse and threats of sexual violence against men and women detained by Israeli forces.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel released dozens of Gaza detainees from the Kerem Shalom border crossing. They included the body of Ismail Khadr, a 33-year-old Palestinian from Gaza who recently died in Israeli custody, prisoner unions said in a joint statement.

With the deaths of these two men, the total number of Palestinian detainees who have died in Israeli custody since October 7 has reached 18, according to prisoner associations.