Fuck You, Israel.
When will this disrespect for human life stop?
Dr. Adnan Al-Barsh, Head of the Orthopedics Department in Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, died on April 19. We find this out today. He was held captive and tortured in the Ofer prison in the West Bank for four months. We do not know the details of his death. But we know that he was unjustly abducted, tortured, and killed.
This is the story of his last days. He served his fellow Gazans, until the end.
When the Israeli army laid siege on Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza in mid-November 2023 — claiming it was a “command and control center” of Hamas (claims NEVER substantiated, despite reports of calendars and baby formula discovered in the bowels of the hospital ) — Dr. Andan was evacuated. Instead of hunkering down somewhere safe (and there is no safe place in Gaza), he went to the North of Gaza strip to work at the Indonesian Hospital.
These are his words as he left Al-Shifa: “We left the hospital, sister. We left the hospital with a heartache. But thank God. Thank God we fulfilled our mission (his oath). I swear we fulfilled our mission, and our reward is due to God.”
“Following the same pattern of the devastating incursion in Al-Shifa, Hospital, Israeli forces now target Indonesian Hospital. Israeli artillery started in the middle of the night and targeted the surgical department, wounding the doctors working there and killing 12 civilians who were taking refuge.“ —maktoobmedia.com on November 20th,
Dr. Adnan was at the Indonesian Hospital. He insisted on staying to treat patients. He had faith. He was committed and courageous. He did everything he could to serve his fellow Gazans.
He was wounded.
“We fear Israeli forces will repeat what they did at Al-Shifa Hospital,” The hospital spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said in a recent statement (maktoomedia.com on November 20th). “As the attacks are intensifying the situation has turned catastrophic. At present, there are more than 700 people, including medical staff and injured people stuck inside the hospital, and the total number of civilians sheltering in the hospital is around 5,000. Despite the horrifying threats by the forces, the medical staff at the Indonesian Hospital insist that they will stay as long as they can to treat the injured.”
Dr. Adnan was among those wounded.
He was then abducted by Israeli forces, and brought to Ofer Prison. Ofer Prison is an Israeli prison in the West Bank, between Ramallah and Giv’at Ze’ev.
Four months later, he died in Ofer Prison. His body remains in Israeil custody.
For what did he die?
An exceptionally skilled, compassionate, and experienced surgeon is now dead.
Why?
Any person that moves or breaths in Gaza is considered suspicious by Israel.
Fuck Israel. Because you know what? I mean, a million things! But, they don’t even care about suspicious.
They care about annihilation of Gaza.
The Palestinian health ministry said that “Bursh’s death raised to 496 the number of medical sector workers who had been killed by Israel since Oct. 7. It added that 1,500 others have been wounded while 309 had been arrested.” — Reuters News
Dr Adnan Al Barsh treated Bisan.
Bisan is a Palestinian videographer and journalist. She’s also an amazing basketball player. As an athlete, she’s had numerous injuries. Dr. Adnan helped her, prior to the genocide. Here is her account of him.
My friend Alla, a nurse in Gaza, had the opportunity to work with Dr. Adnan during his traning. This is how I first learned about the doctor’s death. He sent me a message on IG this morning, in response to my question, “how are you?”
He wrote, “We are not fine.” He sent this image.
I didn’t know what to say.
Words are never enough. But they are something.
And we must keep saying them.
WORDS.
FOR PALESTINE.
FOR THE ATROCITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE.
FOR CALLING FOR JUSTICE AND RESPECT.
A RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES.
AN ENDURING CEASEFIRE.
This is a great loss. For all Palestinian people. For all the people of the world.
Netanyahu. Joe Biden. The IDF. All world leaders complicit in allowing this genocide — we will not forgive nor forget.
When will Israel stop treating Palestinians as “human animals,” in the words of Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister?
There are no excuses, and we will not forget.
Fuck you, Israel.
Palestine —
From the ashes, you will rise.
