Overview
- Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was arrested during a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital on December 27, 2024 and has been held without charge under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law.
- A UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Monday declared his detention arbitrary and called for his immediate release as a remedy under international law.
- His lawyer visited him on July 2 and reported fresh injuries to his head, eyes, ears, and neck, severe weakness, and breathing problems that together create a tangible risk of death in custody.
- Israeli courts have denied release after hearings that relied on confidential security material, and Israeli authorities and the prison service reject claims of systematic abuse.
- Rights groups say Abu Safiya is one of dozens of Gaza health workers held without charge, a practice they link to severe strain on Gaza’s health system, while the UN opinion lacks a direct enforcement mechanism and depends on state compliance.