In a significant legal hearing, Israel’s Supreme Court is currently deliberating the fate of Hussam Abu Safiya, a prominent Palestinian doctor detained by Israeli forces over a year ago. The doctor, who has been a key figure in Gaza’s healthcare sector amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, participated in the proceedings via video link, contesting the grounds of his detention.
Naji Abbas, from Physicians for Human Rights — Israel, confirmed that as of Thursday afternoon, the court had yet to reach a decision. Dr. Abu Safiya, the former head of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, has been in captivity for 17 months. His leadership became evident during an 85-day siege by Israeli forces, when he released videos pleading for international assistance. According to PHRI, 14 other doctors from Gaza remain imprisoned in Israel.
In a brief video appearance on Wednesday, Dr. Abu Safiya, aged 53, appeared in handcuffs, donned in white prison attire, and visibly frail. Videos circulating on social media documented the moment Israeli officials abruptly ended the broadcast as spectators attempted to glimpse the doctor. His defense attorney, Nasser Odeh, was heard explaining the situation, noting, “Many people are present to show solidarity and support. The media is also both inside and outside the court.”
Reports have surfaced claiming Dr. Abu Safiya’s involvement with Hamas, although medical and aid organizations working with him refute these allegations. His son, Elias Abu Safiya, highlighted his father’s solitary confinement in a social media video shortly after an appeal. Israel has not yet filed formal charges against him. “How can a person be punished for seeking to know why he was detained?” questioned Elias.
The Impact of Conflict on Families
The Israeli Justice Ministry has not commented on the matter, while the Israeli Prison Service denied mistreatment claims, asserting the provision of adequate medical care to all detainees. After the court session, Odeh conveyed a message from the doctor: “I am a pediatrician who provides medical care to patients, the wounded, and the most vulnerable in the Strip. I carried out my work in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards. My detention is unjust and arbitrary.”
Before his arrest, Dr. Abu Safiya was a voice of resilience, sending video updates from a besieged hospital. The conflict took a personal toll when his son was killed in a drone strike near the facility. “Everything we have built, they have burned,” he mourned. “They killed my son. … I buried my son in the hospital yard.”
This ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a deadly assault by Hamas on southern Israel, leading to over 1,200 casualties and numerous hostages. Since then, nearly 73,000 people have died in Gaza due to Israeli military actions, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. The United Nations and other independent organizations regard these figures as the most accurate tally of the conflict’s human cost.
For more in-depth coverage, visit AP’s Israel-Hamas war page.
