JERUSALEM — The detention of a well-known Palestinian doctor from Gaza, Hussam Abu Safiya, remains under review by Israel’s Supreme Court. Abu Safiya, who was captured by Israeli forces 17 months ago, appeared before the court through a video link to contest his ongoing imprisonment.
Naji Abbas, overseeing the prisoners and detainees division at Physicians for Human Rights — Israel, stated that by Thursday afternoon, the court had not issued a decision regarding Abu Safiya’s detention.
Abu Safiya, who formerly directed the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, became emblematic of the healthcare workers’ efforts to manage patient care amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. During an 85-day siege of the hospital by Israeli forces, he made public pleas for assistance through video messages. As reported by PHRI, 14 doctors from Gaza remain incarcerated in Israeli facilities.
During his brief court appearance on Wednesday, Abu Safiya was seen in handcuffs, dressed in white prison attire, with visible marks on his arms. Video clips shared on social media depicted Israeli officials promptly ending the video feed as people attempted to view the doctor.
His attorney, Nasser Odeh, was heard in the video explaining that onlookers could not see Abu Safiya because the guards had switched off the monitor while awaiting the judge’s decision on whether to restore his image on screen.
“Many people are present to show solidarity and support. The media is also both inside and outside the court,” Odeh stated in the video.
Abu Safiya’s frail condition, captured by journalists, circulated widely online, renewing demands for his release. The Israeli military has suggested that Abu Safiya is under investigation for alleged collaboration with Hamas, the governing group in Gaza. However, medical personnel and international aid organizations that have collaborated with him have dismissed these allegations.
PHRI reported that Abu Safiya was recently moved to solitary confinement, a measure taken shortly after his appeal, as noted by his son, Elias Abu Safiya, in a social media post. Despite the detention, Israel has not formally charged him with any crime. Elias questioned, “How can a person be punished for seeking to know why he was detained?”
A son’s tragic loss amidst the conflict
Requests for comments from Israel’s Justice Ministry went unanswered on Thursday. The Israeli Prison Service refuted any claims of mistreatment, affirming that all inmates receive professional healthcare and that any abuse allegations are thoroughly investigated.
Following the court session, Odeh conveyed a message from Abu Safiya: “I am a pediatrician who provides medical care to patients, the wounded, and the most vulnerable in the Strip. I carried out my work in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards. My detention is unjust and arbitrary.”
Leading up to his detention, Abu Safiya maintained his role under siege, releasing video updates as Israeli forces surrounded the hospital. A drone strike tragically killed his son nearby, prompting an emotional response from the doctor, who said, “Everything we have built, they have burned. They killed my son. … I buried my son in the hospital yard.”
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, following a deadly incursion by the militant group into southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, nearly 73,000 individuals in Gaza have perished as a result of Israeli military actions, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. These figures, although not distinguishing between civilians and fighters, are considered the most reliable by the United Nations and other independent entities.
For further updates on this ongoing story, visit AP’s dedicated coverage.
