A United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate release of Palestinian doctor and Kamal Adwan Hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been held by Israeli authorities since December 2024, citing mounting concerns over reports of abuse and his deteriorating health.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, said it was deeply concerned by allegations surrounding Abu Safiya’s treatment while in Israeli custody. The commission warned that the reported conduct could amount to serious violations of international law and called for his immediate release.
Abu Safiya, who headed Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was detained during an Israeli military operation in December 2024. Rights groups and his lawyer say he has remained in custody without formal charges and that his health has continued to deteriorate.
According to Physicians for Human Rights Israel, Abu Safiya’s condition has become increasingly critical, with fears that his life could be at risk if he remains in detention.
In its statement, the UN commission said the reported treatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli prison authorities raises grave concerns and may amount to international crimes. It added that Abu Safiya’s worsening medical condition appears to be a direct result of his treatment while in custody.
Israel’s Prison Service rejected the allegations, describing them as false, outrageous and entirely without factual basis. Although it did not identify Abu Safiya by name, the agency has consistently denied claims that he or other detained medical personnel have been subjected to abuse.
Earlier this week, Abu Safiya’s lawyer alleged that the physician has endured daily abuse since his arrest and warned that his health continues to decline. During a Supreme Court hearing in Jerusalem in June, held via video link, he appeared noticeably thinner, further fuelling concerns about his condition.
The UN inquiry said Abu Safiya’s case reflects what it described as a broader pattern of alleged violations against Gaza’s healthcare system and medical professionals documented in previous investigations. Israel has repeatedly rejected those findings, accusing the commission of political bias and declining to cooperate with its work.
Separately, a UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled on Monday that Abu Safiya’s detention was arbitrary and called for his immediate release, saying it violated multiple provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Goodness Anunobi
