Detained Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safia shows signs of torture, family says

What Happened

On Wednesday, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appeared by video link before the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem, visibly thinner and shackled, demanding his immediate release. Abu Safia has been held without charge for over 500 days under Israel's 'Unlawful Combatant Law' since Israeli forces seized him during a raid on the hospital on December 27, 2024. His lawyer, Nasser Abu Odeh, told Al Jazeera that Abu Safia was handcuffed and shackled, the court refused to remove the shackles, and he has been denied medical treatment for chronic illness, an assault-induced back and neck pain, and vision problems after his glasses were confiscated. His family said they saw 'marks of torture, pain and exhaustion' on his face, and visible skin disease appeared on his hands—a condition the lawyer said is widespread among Palestinian detainees. The court postponed a ruling on continued detention, with a decision expected within days. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Israeli forces shelled an apartment building near the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing one Palestinian man; an Israeli drone strike wounded two others in the Zeitoun neighbourhood southeast of Gaza City; and drone fire critically wounded a woman in Beit Lahiya, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The case of Dr. Abu Safia highlights Israel's use of the 'Unlawful Combatant Law' to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charge or Geneva Convention protections, and underscores allegations of systematic torture and medical neglect of Palestinian detainees. It draws international attention to the targeting of medical personnel and facilities in Gaza, amid broader patterns of attacks on healthcare infrastructure. The simultaneous ongoing Israeli military strikes, despite a ceasefire agreed in October 2025, illustrate the fragility of the truce and the continued human toll on civilians.

Watch For

The Israeli Supreme Court's imminent ruling on whether Abu Safia will remain in detention or be released, expected within days. Further updates on his condition and any medical examination findings. Potential responses from UN bodies, the WHO, or diplomatic mediators (Qatar, Egypt, US) that could pressure Israel. Continued Israeli military strikes in Gaza and their impact on the ceasefire.