Showing visible signs of abuse, Dr. Al-Rantisi was released from prison

71 years old “Doctor of the poor”, Dr. Mazen al-Rantisi, was released by Israel on Sunday, October 25, after spending more than four months in Ofer Prison. Dr. Al-Rantisi showed physical signs of the abuse he suffered at the time he was set free and told reporters that, one hour before he was released, “a guard dragged him to the release room with his hands handcuffed behind his back, his legs chained, and his eyes blindfolded, and then pushed and kicked him until he fell to the ground.”

In the images circulating on social media following his release, the doctor appeared thin and exhausted, with a very visible fresh wound on his forehead. Dr. Al-Rantisi had reported to his legal representatives how he was physically abused and denied medical care while in custody of Israeli forces at Ofer prison.

Dr. Mazen al-Rantisi is a well known physician for waiving fees, supplying medicines and operating a clinic that became a refuge for low-income Palestinians thus given the popular name of “doctor of the poor”. Human Rights groups had been demanding Dr. Al-Rantisi freedom after his detention at a dawn raid on his home in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on 21 June, Israeli Prosecutors indicted him for serving as chairman of the board of the Union of Health Work Committees, a Palestinian non-profit that provides medical care to thousands of Palestinians.

Healthcare Workers Watch says that at least 100 health workers remain in detention by Israeli forces without charge.