A prominent Palestinian doctor, Hussam Abu Safiya, has been detained by Israeli forces for 18 months. His lawyer and a human rights group claim he has suffered mistreatment and is now in critical condition.
Abu Safiya was the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. He became a symbol for healthcare workers struggling amidst the war between Israel and Hamas. He led the hospital during an 85-day siege by the Israeli army, posting videos pleading for help before being arrested in December 2024. No formal charges have been made against him.
The Israeli army is investigating Abu Safiya, 53, on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas. International and aid personnel who worked with him deny these allegations.
Nasser Odeh, Abu Safiya’s lawyer, and Physicians for Human Rights Israel stated that he appeared extremely weak during a July 2 visit, struggling to sit upright. Odeh noted recent injuries on his head around the eyes, ears, and neck, along with breathing difficulties.
“He has been subjected to physical and psychological abuse, kept in isolation for extended periods,” Odeh reported after a Supreme Court appearance challenging his detention without charges.
During a brief video appearance at a court hearing, Abu Safiya looked pale and gaunt, with marks resembling lashings on his arms.
The Israeli Prison Service dismissed the abuse allegations as “false and utterly baseless.” It refrained from discussing the case directly, citing privacy concerns. The service affirmed all prisoners and detainees are kept in accordance with the law and receive medical care per Health Ministry guidelines.
The treatment of detained Palestinians has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and the United Nations following the war with Hamas starting in October 2023. The number of detained Palestinians surged since the conflict began.
The war began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led attack from Gaza on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Over 73,000 Palestinians have since died in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry of the territory, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.