The diplomatic mission of Israel in Geneva defended the detention of Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, stating on Friday that his arrest was lawful and based on concrete intelligence. Israel accused Abu Safiya of serving as a colonel in Hamas, rejecting claims that he has suffered from any life-threatening medical condition during his detention, which began in December 2024.
The hospital director became widely known in 2024 for publicly documenting the harsh conditions at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia amid a significant Israeli military offensive in Gaza. On December 27 of that year, Israeli forces launched an assault on the facility, which was described by Israeli authorities as a Hamas “terrorist centre.” During this operation, dozens of medical personnel, including Abu Safiya, were arrested.
Several independent United Nations rights experts denounced the detention as arbitrary and highlighted the lack of charges or trial against Abu Safiya. In a statement released earlier this week, four UN human rights specialists expressed concern that his case exemplifies what they described as a systematic targeting of Palestinian health workers by Israeli authorities.
Separately, the UN’s independent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) for the occupied Palestinian territories voiced serious apprehension about reports alleging that Abu Safiya has endured ongoing and severe abuse while in custody. The Commission called for his immediate, unconditional, and safe release, urging Israeli authorities to provide him with prompt access to independent medical care. The CoI, which has previously accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, said that the alleged mistreatment of Abu Safiya aligns with a broader pattern of rights violations.
Israeli officials have rejected these allegations, maintaining that no evidence has been presented to substantiate claims of abuse or medical neglect. The Israeli diplomatic mission reiterated that Abu Safiya has not shown any signs of a life-threatening condition during his detention.
The case has further intensified international scrutiny over the situation of medical personnel in Gaza amid ongoing conflict, raising questions about the treatment of detainees and the humanitarian conditions in the region. Both Israeli authorities and UN bodies continue to stand firm in their respective positions regarding the circumstances surrounding Abu Safiya’s detention.