Ramallah: The Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners has strongly criticized the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to reject an appeal seeking the release of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza.
According to the report, the court ruled that Dr. Abu Safiya will remain in detention under the “Unlawful Combatant Law.” The center stated that he is being held without specific charges being filed against him and without an indictment.
The human rights organization said the decision violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which provide special protection for medical personnel during armed conflicts.
According to the center, Dr. Abu Safiya is being held in solitary confinement at Nafha Prison under harsh and degrading conditions. It claimed that he has been denied necessary medical treatment and the basic rights guaranteed to detainees, raising serious concerns about his health and humanitarian situation.
The center held the Israeli authorities fully responsible for Dr. Abu Safiya’s life and safety, calling for his immediate release, access to medical care, and an end to the policy of arbitrary detention of medical and humanitarian workers.
It also urged international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and United Nations special rapporteurs, to intervene urgently and press for an end to his detention while ensuring that legal protections for medical personnel under international law are respected.
According to the report, Israeli forces arrested Dr. Abu Safiya on December 27, 2024, after storming Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza. His detention was extended several times throughout 2025, including a six-month extension in October 2025.
In February 2025, Dr. Abu Safiya appeared for the first time in a video broadcast by Israeli media, showing him shackled inside prison. The footage drew widespread criticism and condemnation from human rights groups.
He was seen again during a court hearing on June 10, 2026. According to the report, both his hands and feet were shackled, visible signs of torture appeared on his face, and he looked exhausted and emaciated.
Palestinian data cited in the report states that Dr. Abu Safiya is among 737 medical personnel detained by Israel since the start of the war in Gaza. The figure includes doctors, paramedics, and nurses.