Occupation Continues to Detain 14 Doctors from Gaza Amid Reports of Systematic Torture

Hebrew press sources revealed that the Israeli occupation authorities continue to detain a group of doctors from the Gaza Strip without trial or clear evidence of conviction against them. The case of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has come to the forefront following widespread international and human rights demands for his immediate release.

A recent photo of Dr. Abu Safiya, whose hospital in the northern Gaza Strip was completely destroyed by the occupation, sparked a wave of anger and human rights criticism. The doctor, who has been detained since December 2024, appeared in a deteriorating health condition and remarkably emaciated body, reflecting the extent of suffering inside prisons.

Sources observed clear signs of bruises and skin injuries on Abu Safiya's arms, which observers considered definitive indicators of the physical torture he is subjected to. This appearance occurred during a Supreme Court session held via video conference to consider a petition against his continued detention.

Data indicates that the occupation is holding Abu Safiya along with 13 other doctors from Gaza under the umbrella of the 'Unlawful Combatant' law. This legal framework allows the occupation to detain Palestinians for long periods without the need to file an indictment or conduct a regular criminal trial.

The detention of these medical personnel is periodically extended every six months by a decision of the Central Court in Beersheba. Reports confirm that these procedures lack the minimum standards of international justice and are based on secret files that the defense is not allowed to access.

In a serious development, testimonies from detainees reported the transfer of Dr. Abu Safiya from his cell in 'Ketziot' prison to solitary confinement in 'Nafha' prison. Human rights activists believe that this transfer was a direct punitive measure in response to his recourse to the judiciary and challenging the legality of his continued detention.

Human rights organizations confirmed that the policy of solitary confinement has become a common practice against prisoners who try to assert their legal rights. These steps are consistent with the escalation of violations inside Israeli prisons since the far-right took control of the Ministry of National Security.

Lawyers revealed that many detainees now prefer to waive their right to appear before the judiciary for fear of physical assaults. Prisoners are subjected to systematic abuse during their transfer from cells to video conference rooms or courtrooms.

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is considered one of the most prominent symbols of medical resilience in Gaza, as he continued to perform his professional duty despite the harsh conditions. He continued to manage Kamal Adwan Hospital despite the martyrdom of his son by occupation fire and his own injury in previous attacks.

International reports warned that the continued detention of doctors exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from the collapse of its health system. The absence of these personnel deprives hundreds of thousands of citizens of necessary medical care amid the ongoing war of annihilation.

On the international level, the prestigious medical journal 'The Lancet' published a petition signed by dozens of international medical organizations. The petition calls for a boycott of the Israeli Medical Association due to its silence and failure to uphold professional ethics regarding what is happening in Gaza.

The petition accused doctors within the Israeli prison system of participating in or covering up the torture of Palestinian prisoners. The signatories demanded the need for international pressure to stop these blatant violations of international laws and medical norms.

The sources stressed that if the occupation possesses any evidence against Abu Safiya, it should present it publicly before the judiciary and provide clear charges. Continued arbitrary detention is a war crime that requires immediate intervention from UN institutions to release all medical staff.

It is worth noting that the last visual documentation of Dr. Abu Safiya before the last session was in February 2025, where he appeared shackled under heavy guard. The footage at the time showed him being abused and subjected to show interrogations by occupation intelligence officers inside one of the detention centers.

The continued detention of Abu Safiya and other doctors not only represents an injustice to them but also affects hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who need their medical services.