Rights group raises concerns about jailed Dr Abu Safia amid strikes on Gaza

An Israeli rights group has raised alarms regarding the deteriorating health of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, who remains in custody. The organization, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), reports that Israeli authorities are overlooking the critical medical condition of the physician, who was captured during a military raid in December 2024. While many citizens seek information on human rights abuse, this case highlights the severe challenges facing medical professionals in conflict zones.

Legal efforts to secure the release of Dr. Abu Safia and 13 other medical professionals were rejected by Israeli courts on Wednesday. The petitions sought the release of these individuals, who are being held without charge, and requested an independent medical examination for Dr. Abu Safia. According to PHRI, an independent review of the doctor’s records indicates a 14kg weight loss over four months, significant drops in haemoglobin levels, and uninvestigated chest pain. Amit Tirosh, the medical reviewer, contested an Israeli court’s assessment that high blood pressure was the doctor’s only ailment, stating the ruling contradicts available data. PHRI further claims the Israel Prison Service has withheld the physician's updated medical file.

The detention of Gaza medical staff without charge violates individual rights and threatens the healthcare system.

Legal and humanitarian challenges

The Supreme Court dismissed the petition for the release of the 14 doctors, including hospital directors and specialists, stating that no exceptional grounds existed to justify their freedom. The court maintained that the Chief of Staff’s decision to keep them detained was reviewed in the context of the ongoing conflict and the shortage of medical professionals in Gaza. PHRI argues that these prolonged, arbitrary detentions, some lasting over two years, exacerbate the collapse of a health sector that has seen nearly 90 percent of its infrastructure destroyed since October 2023.

Meanwhile, violence continues across the enclave. Sources at al-Shifa Hospital reported that an Israeli drone strike in western Gaza City resulted in a fatality and multiple injuries. Another individual succumbed to wounds sustained during an attack on a family home. Despite a previous ceasefire agreement, over 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since that time, according to the Ministry of Health.

Why it matters

The ongoing detention of essential medical staff significantly weakens Gaza’s already crippled healthcare infrastructure, leaving a severe shortage of specialists to treat the wounded. This situation underscores the broader humanitarian impact of the conflict on civilian life and professional medical services in the region.