Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, asserts that the crime of executing prisoners Dr. Adnan Ahmad Al-Barsh (50 years old from Jabalia Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, and Abdul-Bari Rajab Khader (33 years old), reveals the systematic torturing policy applied by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian prisoners. The death of the two prisoners was declared on Thursday 2/5/2024. Martyr Al Barsh was the orthopedic department’s chief at Al Shifa Hospital. He was arrested in December 2023 while working at Al Awda Hospital helping the doctors there. His death was declared today at Oufer Prison and his body was held. According to the news, he died on 19/4/2024 but his death was not declared at that time. As for martyr Abdul-Bari Khader, he died after his arrest, and his body was handed today through Karem Abu Salem Cross Point alongside a group of prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were released.
SHAMS Center places the criminal and legal responsibility of killing the two prisoners, on the Israeli occupation as they were killed due to the torture and oppression practiced by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian prisoners during arrest, investigation, and serving terms in the Israeli prisons. The Center added that the increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners killed in Israeli prisons, since October 7, 2023 (18 martyrs), reveals the torture policy applied by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian prisoners and the execution crimes committed against prisoners. Likewise, the increase in the number of martyr prisoners indicates the immoral and criminal policies applied against Palestinian prisoners.
SHAMS Center asserts that the crime of executing the two prisoners (Khader and Al Barsh), is a profound violation of international law and international human rights law. In particular, the crime violates the Geneva the Third Convention (dated 12/8/1949). Article 13 of the given Convention states: “Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest”. Additionally, the crime violates The Rome Statute as Article 7 states that “Torture is War Crime”.
SHAMS Center calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Noble Parties signatories to the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Amnesty International, to initiate immediate measures to press on the occupation’s state to halt the crimes against Palestinian prisoners. The Occupation state should be lobbied to abide by the principles of international law and international human rights law, in treating the Palestinian prisoners, especially Geneva Third and Fourth Conventions.