Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, has been moved to solitary confinement at Ramon prison following more than 500 days of detention without formal charges. According to Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), the 53-year-old physician was transferred from Ketziot prison without explanation, raising urgent concerns from his family and legal counsel regarding his health and the conditions of his confinement.
Dr. Abu Safiya was detained by Israeli forces on December 27, 2024, while working at Kamal Adwan hospital, an facility he continued to manage through 80 days of military siege and surrounding operations.
Why the detention of Dr. Abu Safiya remains contested
Israeli authorities have classified Dr. Abu Safiya as an “unlawful combatant,” a designation applied to him and more than 375 other medical workers. According to his son, Dr. Elyas Abu Safiya, the detention stems from his father’s refusal to evacuate the hospital and abandon his patients during military operations. While the Israel Prison Service stated that it does not provide information regarding specific prisoners due to privacy obligations, it denied that the allegations of mistreatment reflect their standard practices.
Conditions in solitary confinement
Reports from PHRI indicate that Dr. Abu Safiya is being held in a cell measuring approximately one metre by one metre. His son, Dr. Elyas, reported that his father requires surgery for shrapnel lodged in his left thigh since his arrest and has suffered from untreated skin diseases. Under the United Nations Mandela Rules, solitary confinement that exceeds 14 days is considered a form of prohibited treatment, yet the doctor has been held without trial for over 525 days.
The use of the “unlawful combatant” designation creates a legal vacuum where detainees are held behind closed doors under gag orders. This practice limits transparency and complicates the ability of human rights organizations, such as PHRI, to monitor the health and due process rights of medical personnel held in military-related detention.
What comes next for the detained doctors
A legal appeal filed by attorney Nasser Odeh is currently seeking Dr. Abu Safiya’s release, though the state has maintained that proceedings are subject to a gag order. Simultaneously, a petition filed by PHRI with the Israeli high court of justice in April is awaiting a decision regarding the status of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza held without charge. If the court denies the petition, it is likely that these medical professionals will remain in indefinite detention, as the Israel Defense Forces have not responded to requests for comment on the lack of formal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Dr. Abu Safiya detained?
According to his son, he was detained on December 27, 2024, for refusing to obey military orders to evacuate Kamal Adwan hospital.
What is the current legal status of the doctors?
They are classified as “unlawful combatants,” a legal category that allows for detention without trial and limits public access to legal proceedings via gag orders.
What are the reported conditions of the detention?
Detainees have reported severe food shortages, the use of teargas, being forced to remain on floors or metal beds for most of the day, and a lack of access to medical treatment for injuries like shrapnel wounds.
Do you believe that medical personnel should be granted protected status regardless of the conflict zone in which they operate?
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