In response to a Haaretz query regarding the police's decision not to summon the doctor for questioning but instead to arrest him at night, authorities said: "We do not provide details regarding the existence or non-existence of investigations, and this does not confirm or deny their existence."
In Israeli civilian law, authorities are obligated to bring an Israeli suspect before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. Military law, however, permits holding a Palestinian in detention for four days until their first appearance before a judge. However, since October 7, 2023, the army has been making widespread use of the "combat arrest" clause in the Security Provisions Order, which allows the authorities to bring a Palestinian suspect before a military judge only after eight days.
Dr. Rantisi became known in the Ramallah area for making accurate diagnoses, his friendly demeanor, and operating on the principle that every patient is entitled to medical treatment: he typically charges 30 shekels from patients who can afford it and provides free treatment to those who cannot. In many cases, Rantisi ensures his patients receive medications before they are covered by medical insurance. Often, Rantisi returns home with dishes prepared for him by patients instead of monetary payment.
In the past year, the number of people seeking treatment at Rantisi's clinic has grown, along with the number of patients unable to pay for care. Israel's seizure of Palestinian Authority revenues led the Palestinian Health Ministry to implement drastic cuts to the working hours of medical teams and clinics. One of Rantisi's friends told Haaretz that in his unpaid role as chairperson of the union, he is responsible for the professional activities of the permanent and mobile clinics throughout otherwise underserved villages in the West Bank.
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