Sat Dec 27 13:01:57 UTC 2025: Summary:
Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, has been detained by Israeli forces for a year without charges. His health is deteriorating due to alleged inhumane prison conditions, lack of medical care, and physical and psychological abuse. Prior to his detention, Abu Safia insisted on remaining at the hospital despite continuous Israeli attacks. Witnesses describe him being assaulted during the evacuation of the hospital. He was held under the “unlawful combatant” law, denying him due process. His family is appealing for his release, citing his deteriorating health, the lack of charges, and the fact that he was simply dedicated to providing medical care.
News Article:
Gaza Doctor Held Without Charges in Israeli Prison, Health Deteriorating
Gaza City – Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, 52, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, remains imprisoned by Israeli forces a year after his detention, sparking international concerns about the treatment of medical personnel in conflict zones. Held without charges or trial, Abu Safia’s family reports a significant decline in his health due to what they describe as inhumane prison conditions and a lack of necessary medical care.
Abu Safia, a figure renowned for his dedication to his patients and his steadfast commitment to staying at Kamal Adwan Hospital despite intense Israeli attacks, was detained during the forced evacuation of the facility last December. Witnesses allege that he was assaulted during the evacuation process.
He is being held under the controversial “unlawful combatant” law, which allows indefinite detention without formal charges or access to evidence. According to his lawyers, Abu Safia has lost a significant amount of weight and suffers from pre-existing health conditions, including heart problems and high blood pressure, further compounded by skin infections and inadequate medical attention.
“My father’s only ‘crime’ was being a doctor,” said Ilyas Abu Safia, his eldest son, who now resides in Kazakhstan with the rest of his family.
The circumstances surrounding Abu Safia’s detention have been met with condemnation from human rights organizations and raise questions about the protection of medical personnel in armed conflicts. His family is urgently appealing to international bodies for his immediate release, emphasizing his commitment to medical ethics and the critical role he played in providing care in a war-torn region.
“Israel is trying to criminalize my father’s work, his continued service to people and his efforts to save the wounded and the sick in an area Israel itself considered a ‘red zone’ at the time,” added Ilyas.
First Piper 