Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was taken by Israeli forces on 27 December 2024 following a military raid that ordered the evacuation of the facility. The detention occurred within the hospital grounds where he had been treating the wounded and caring for patients rather than on a battlefield. He was removed from a medical centre designed to keep one of the region’s last functioning healthcare facilities alive.
Symbols of Assault on Medical System
His current detention has become a focal point for concerns regarding Israel’s impact on Gaza’s medical infrastructure. Reports indicate Dr Abu Safiya remains held without formal charges, with legal proceedings managed under Israel’s “unlawful combatant” framework. Human rights groups and United Nations experts have called for his immediate release. These organisations are warning about the deterioration of his health, conditions in custody, and the broader pattern of targeting Palestinian healthcare workers.
Refusal to Abandon Patients
Before his removal, Dr Abu Safiya was noted for refusing to leave his patients despite repeated attacks, severe shortages, and the collapse of services. Kamal Adwan Hospital served as a critical lifeline for civilians, including children and the injured who had nowhere else to go. In November 2024, he was reportedly injured by shrapnel from a strike on the hospital but continued working.
Claims of Abuse and Health Deterioration
Reports from his family, lawyers, and rights groups allege that his health has deteriorated badly while in detention. Specific concerns include weight loss, untreated injuries, poor access to medical care, harsh prison conditions, and solitary confinement. Reuters reported that his family and lawyer raised claims of fractured ribs, vision problems, chronic medical conditions, and mistreatment. Israel’s Prison Service has denied allegations of abuse.
Wider Detention of Medical Staff
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya is not the only Palestinian medical worker detained. Reuters reported he is among 14 Palestinian doctors held by Israel, while nearly 400 healthcare workers have reportedly been detained during the war. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and hospital staff are supposed to be protected under international norms rather than being disappeared into prisons or denied proper care.
Demand for Release
The demand is simple: free Dr Hussam Abu Safiya now. Stop the torture. End the detention of Palestinian medical workers. The world cannot remain silent while a doctor is punished for saving lives.