The West must act to save Dr Hussam Abu Safiya from being killed by Israel

What Happened

Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was detained by Israeli forces after the hospital was repeatedly attacked and surrounded. According to Al-Mezan, whose lawyer visited him in February 2025, he has been held without charge for over 550 days in Nitzan Prison under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law. The lawyer reported that Dr Abu Safiya was tortured, including being stripped, beaten, and held in prolonged solitary confinement. During a visit on 2 July 2025, the lawyer found him badly beaten, almost unrecognisable, with difficulty breathing, and appearing on the verge of losing consciousness. Dr Abu Safiya told the lawyer: 'This is the last time you’ll see me… They brought me here to kill me.' The article states that six Palestinian healthcare workers have been killed in Israeli detention since October 2023, and that as of April 2025, 83 other healthcare workers remained in Israeli prisons, including 23 from Kamal Adwan Hospital.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The case signals the systematic detention and alleged abuse of Palestinian medical personnel by Israel during the Gaza war, undermining humanitarian protections and medical neutrality. It highlights potential violations of international law and the risk to healthcare infrastructure, while drawing international attention to conditions in Israeli prisons and the broader pattern of dehumanising treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Watch For

Potential diplomatic pressure or sanctions from Western governments in response to advocacy calls; legal filings at the International Criminal Court or International Court of Justice regarding the treatment of detainees; updates on Dr Abu Safiya’s health and any official Israeli charges or reasons for his continued detention; and further reporting by Al-Mezan or other NGOs on the status of the 83 healthcare workers still held in Israeli prisons.