New allegations about the treatment of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya in Israeli custody have renewed calls for his release and raised fresh questions about the limits of international pressure on Israel. The Palestinian doctor, who became one of the defining images of the Gaza war after his arrest on Dec. 27, 2024, told his lawyer during a July 2 prison visit that he feared for his life.
Doctor's Life in Immediate Danger, Lawyer Says
According to attorney Nasser Odeh, Abu Safiya said: “This is the last time you will see me. They brought me here to kill me. I don’t see myself surviving. This is the end.” Following the visit to the underground Rakefet facility at Nitzan Prison, Odeh and Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) said Abu Safiya’s life was in “immediate danger.” An affidavit cited by PHRI stated that Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting in hand and foot shackles, escorted by masked prison guards, and suffering from fresh injuries to his head, eyes, ears, and neck. Odeh noted that the doctor's physical and psychological condition had deteriorated dramatically since previous visits.
International Law Protections but Limited Enforcement
Legal experts say international law provides protections for detained medical personnel, but enforcement remains limited. Harout Ekmanian, a New York-based public international law attorney, said detainees are protected under both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Mechanisms including the International Committee of the Red Cross and UN special rapporteurs can investigate allegations of abuse, but they generally rely on state cooperation rather than coercive enforcement. “Although these mechanisms generally rely on state cooperation rather than coercive enforcement, they remain important legal and humanitarian tools for promoting compliance with international obligations and documenting alleged violations,” Ekmanian told Arab News.
Supreme Court Ruling and Petition for Release
On Sunday, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the state must submit by July 7 its response to a petition filed by PHRI seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza held without charge, and specifically address the serious allegations concerning Abu Safiya’s condition. PHRI said it filed the petition on April 30, but the court repeatedly granted state requests to delay the response. The case has drawn political attention in Britain, with Labour MPs John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn, and Richard Burgon calling for Israel to release the doctor and provide urgent medical treatment.
Advocacy Groups Urge International Action
PHRI has urged the international community to press for independent medical care, outside monitoring of Abu Safiya’s detention conditions, an international inspection of the prison facility, and the release of Palestinian healthcare workers held without due process. Organizations including Health Workers 4 Palestine, Doctors Against Genocide, and the Hind Rajab Foundation have issued similar appeals. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has urged the Red Cross to seek immediate access to Abu Safiya and fellow detained physician Dr. Marwan Al-Hams.
Broader Context of Gaza War
Abu Safiya’s case has unfolded against the backdrop of the wider Gaza war. Rights groups and UN experts have accused Israel of targeting Gaza’s healthcare system, allegations Israel rejects, saying Hamas uses medical facilities for military purposes. Despite sustained advocacy, there has been no breakthrough. Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president of the US-based medical charity MedGlobal, said international advocacy had so far failed to secure Abu Safiya’s release and warned his treatment appeared to be worsening. “But we have no choice but to advocate publicly for him and his innocent colleagues ... because naming him, keeping his face and his story in the international spotlight, is the only protection against forced disappearance,” Sahloul told Arab News.
US Leverage Seen as Key
Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding, said Israel has largely ignored calls from allies and rights organizations, leaving the United States as the only country with sufficient leverage to influence the case. “The only country that can make a difference will be the United States, and there is no sign as yet that the Trump administration is prepared to push this particular issue,” Doyle told Arab News. He argued that Abu Safiya’s story has become emblematic of the wider conflict, noting how the fate of one individual can sometimes strike a chord with the global public more than the deaths of thousands.
Abu Safiya's Background and Detention
Abu Safiya became one of Gaza’s best-known medical voices during the early months of the war, regularly documenting conditions at Kamal Adwan Hospital and providing journalists with updates from inside the facility. He has been held under Israel’s Unlawful Enemy Combatants Law, which allows authorities to detain people without charge for renewable six-month periods subject to judicial review. Israel has accused Abu Safiya of links to Hamas and alleged Kamal Adwan Hospital was used by Hamas fighters, allegations denied by his lawyer and family.
Naji Abbas, director of the Prisoners and Detainees Department at PHRI, described Odeh’s latest testimony as among the most disturbing the organization has received since the start of the war. “If the authorities do not intervene immediately, there is a real risk that Dr. Abu Safiya will not leave detention alive,” he said. For now, the fate of Abu Safiya and other Palestinian doctors in Israeli detention remains unclear.
