Detained Gaza doctor reports ongoing abuse by Israeli prison guards

Dr Hussam Abu Safiya told his lawyer this week that Israeli prison guards continue to beat him. The paediatrician and former medical director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza reported these abuses during a recent meeting. He stated that authorities threaten him to prevent discussion of his detention conditions.

Abu Safiya was abducted by Israel and has been held without charge since December 2024. Physicians for Human Rights released details regarding his treatment based on statements from his legal counsel. The group highlighted the severe physical violence inflicted upon the detained healthcare worker during his imprisonment.

Guards reportedly strike him in various body areas, including sensitive regions. The assault methods involve hands, feet, and batons according to the organization’s statement. These actions constitute a systematic pattern of abuse aimed at silencing the doctor about his current living circumstances within the facility.

In July, several United Nations experts called for the immediate release of Abu Safiya. They also demanded freedom for all healthcare workers held in what they described as arbitrary detention. The experts warned that such detentions reflect a broader strategy targeting Palestinian health professionals systematically.

The independent experts included special rapporteurs Francesca Albanese and Tlaleng Mofokeng. Others involved were Morris Tidball-Binz and Ben Saul who jointly issued the call. They argued that holding individuals without trial violates fundamental principles of international humanitarian and human rights laws globally.

Detainees are held under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law which experts previously flagged. They noted this statute is incompatible with established international legal frameworks. The continued detention aims to inflict conditions leading to mental and physical destruction of the Palestinian population in the region.

Dr James Smith, an emergency physician who volunteered in Gaza, supports these calls. He advocates for the immediate release of the former hospital director. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of medical staff and the destruction of Gaza's health system by occupying forces.