Israeli occupation authorities continue to hold Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, the Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, under arbitrary detention, subjecting him to torture and inhumane treatment. His arrest, which took place on December 27, 2024, has been marked by severe violations of international law, including enforced disappearance, prolonged solitary confinement, and denial of medical care.
For more than 47 days, Dr. Abu Safiya was held incommunicado, with Israeli authorities blocking all legal access and refusing to disclose his whereabouts. Following sustained legal and human rights pressure, Israeli authorities reluctantly lifted the visitation ban, allowing his lawyer to meet him for the first time. The visit confirmed reports that Dr. Abu Safiya had been subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including severe beatings, sleep deprivation, and denial of adequate food and healthcare.
Despite suffering from high blood pressure and an enlarged heart, Dr. Abu Safiya has been deprived of essential medical treatment. According to legal sources, he was placed in solitary confinement for 24 consecutive days in degrading conditions, left without warm clothing or blankets in freezing temperatures, exacerbating his already fragile health.
In a controversial move, Israeli authorities designated Dr. Abu Safiya as an “unlawful combatant”, a classification that permits indefinite detention without charge or trial. The use of this legal framework has been widely condemned by human rights organizations, as it effectively strips detainees of fundamental legal protections, including the right to due process. This designation, which allows Israel to circumvent judicial oversight, raises concerns about systematic abuses against Palestinian detainees, particularly those in the medical profession.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s arrest is part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks on healthcare professionals in Gaza, where doctors, nurses, and emergency responders have been killed, injured, or arbitrarily detained. The targeting of medical personnel and infrastructure has severely impacted Gaza’s already strained healthcare system, leaving thousands of civilians without essential medical services.
The ongoing detention of Dr. Abu Safiya highlights the urgent need for international intervention to secure his release and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international humanitarian law. Human rights advocates are calling on the United Nations and relevant legal bodies to press for his immediate release and to ensure the protection of medical workers in conflict zones, as stipulated under the Geneva Conventions.
