GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners on Thursday warned of a serious deterioration in the health of detained Palestinian doctor Murad Walid Al-Qouqa from the Gaza Strip, citing torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect he has endured since his arrest at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City.
In a statement, the center said Dr. Al-Qouqa, 47, is a consultant orthopedic and spine surgeon and head of the Orthopedic and Spine Surgery Unit at Al-Shifa Medical Complex. It noted that he spent years treating patients and saving the wounded, remaining committed to his medical and humanitarian duties despite the dangerous conditions in Gaza and refusing to abandon his patients.
According to the center, Israeli occupation forces arrested Dr. Al-Qouqa on March 19, 2024, during their raid on Al-Shifa Medical Complex while he was treating patients and the wounded. He was detained along with several other medical staff members following the siege and assault on the hospital and has remained in Israeli custody ever since.
His wife, who was in southern Gaza at the time of his arrest, said the military operations prevented her from seeing or contacting him. She said the family learned of his arrest unexpectedly and later received information from a lawyer and other testimonies indicating that he had been subjected to beatings, torture, and ill-treatment.
The center said available information indicates that Dr. Al-Qouqa sustained a serious eye injury that affected his vision. He has also suffered physical and psychological abuse and has been living with a herniated disc, high blood pressure, and stomach ulcers. It added that he was denied his blood pressure medication for two months or longer, significantly increasing the risks to his health and life.
According to the statement, his physical condition has deteriorated dramatically, with reports that he has lost approximately 45 kilograms (99 pounds) as a result of starvation, medical neglect, and the harsh conditions of his detention.
The center said the latest available information indicates that Dr. Al-Qouqa is being held in Negev Prison after being transferred between several prisons and detention centers, where he was allegedly subjected to torture and physical and psychological abuse. It said one lawyer was eventually able to visit him after a prolonged period without access, while the International Committee of the Red Cross has still been unable to do so because of restrictions on prison visits.
The center said Dr. Al-Qouqa’s case reflects the broader situation of Palestinian doctors detained by Israeli authorities, describing it as one of the most serious aspects of the targeting of Gaza’s healthcare sector since the start of the Israeli genocide. It said 16 doctors, along with dozens of other healthcare workers, remain in Israeli prisons after many were arrested inside hospitals while carrying out their humanitarian duties.
It added that documented testimonies indicate that detained doctors have been subjected to torture, starvation, medical neglect, and solitary confinement, while also being denied family visits and regular access to legal counsel. Several detainees are reportedly suffering from injuries and chronic illnesses that have worsened because of detention conditions and the lack of medical care.
The center said the arrest and detention of doctors constitute a direct attack on the Palestinian healthcare system, depriving civilians of specialized medical professionals at a time when Gaza’s hospitals and healthcare facilities have suffered widespread destruction.
It called on the international community, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to act urgently to determine Dr. Al-Qouqa’s full medical condition, ensure he receives the treatment he needs, allow the Red Cross and lawyers to visit him regularly, and secure his immediate release along with all detained doctors and healthcare workers.
The center warned that continued international silence over the detention, torture, and denial of medical care for Palestinian doctors gives Israeli occupation authorities a free hand to continue such violations and places detainees’ lives at serious risk amid systematic practices of torture, starvation, medical neglect, solitary confinement, and isolation from the outside world.
