SAFA- Testimony from a recently freed Palestinian detainee has revealed further details surrounding the death of Dr. Adnan al-Borsh, a well-known orthopedic surgeon from Gaza, who died in April 2024 after being subjected to torture while held in Israeli prisons.

The account, reported by journalist and former detainee Islam Hijazi, is based on the testimony of a prisoner identified as "A.Kh.," whose identity remains withheld due to his continued detention. 

According to the testimony, al-Borsh was subjected to repeated abuse that culminated in a fatal assault inside Israeli Ofer Prison, near the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah.

Al-Borsh, head of the orthopedics department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, was arrested by Israeli forces on December 19, 2023, while working at Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza amid intense military operations that had placed the enclave’s healthcare system under severe strain.

Hijazi, who was detained between March 2024 and October 2025, said al-Borsh was initially held at the Sde Teiman detention defamed prison, where he endured harsh interrogation and mistreatment. 

He was later transferred to Al-Jalameh prison in deteriorating health, where Israeli intelligence officers subjected him to further torture. According to the testimony, al-Borsh was subsequently moved to Ofer Prison after being informed that his interrogation had concluded. 

However, the witness said the situation escalated upon his arrival.

The detainee reported that a prison guard told al-Borsh, “We have been waiting for you,” before approximately 20 guards surrounded him and began beating him. 

The assault involved kicks, strikes with boots, electric shocks, and the use of sharp objects and lasted more than 30 minutes in areas of the prison not covered by surveillance cameras.

The witness said al-Borsh initially cried out before falling silent. He was later thrown into a prison yard in critical condition, while requests from other detainees for medical assistance were ignored.

 Hours later, he was declared dead.

Hijazi described the incident as a “deliberate killing,” saying that prison forces  acted on directives from Israeli intelligence.

 He added that some detainees are reportedly marked for abuse, with guards receiving instructions to target them during transfers or detention.

The testimony further claims that such Israeli assaults often focus on sensitive areas of the body, leading to internal injuries that can be attributed to natural causes.

Al-Borsh’s family was notified of his death on April 24, 2024. His body has not been returned, and Israeli occupation continues to withhold his remains. 

In December 2025, his family launched a campaign calling for their return, describing it as a fundamental right.

The case adds to mounting testimonies by Palestinian groups and human rights organizations regarding the treatment of detainees in Israeli custody, particularly since the escalation of the Gaza genocide.