A recent United Nations investigation raised concerns over reported mistreatment of a well-known Palestinian doctor detained by the Israeli military in Gaza since December 2024 and urged for his immediate release. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, called for the release of Hussam Abu Safiya, who serves as the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza.
Various rights organizations and Abu Safiya’s legal representative have expressed fears for his safety, stating that he remains in Israeli custody without any formal charges. Physicians for Human Rights Israel, an Israeli human rights group, highlighted concerns about his deteriorating health and the alleged mistreatment he faces while in detention.
In response to these claims, the UN inquiry remarked that the treatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli Prison Service guards raises serious concerns regarding potential violations of international law, possibly constituting international crimes. The inquiry emphasized that Dr. Abu Safiya’s health condition is a direct consequence of the actions taken against him.
However, an Israel Prison Service spokesperson refuted these allegations on Wednesday, dismissing them as false and lacking any factual basis. While not directly mentioning Abu Safiya, the spokesperson reiterated previous rejections of claims regarding the treatment of him and other medical professionals in prison.
Abu Safiya’s lawyer recently voiced concerns about his client’s deteriorating health and daily abuse. A Supreme Court hearing in June via video link showed Abu Safiya visibly thinner in the face and abdomen, raising further alarm about his well-being. The UN inquiry highlighted that the reported treatment of Abu Safiya by Israeli authorities aligns with a broader pattern of violations documented in previous reports.
Separately, a UN human rights body condemned Israel’s arbitrary detention of Abu Safiya and called for his immediate release, citing violations of various articles within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Israel has staunchly denied these accusations, labeling the inquiry’s actions as politically motivated and divergent from its intended purpose, leading to a lack of cooperation.
In parallel developments, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including two children, on Wednesday. Health officials reported casualties from Israeli attacks near a school in Gaza City and a tent for displaced persons in Khan Younis. These incidents marked a continuation of deadly violence in the region despite a ceasefire agreement reached nine months ago.
The Israeli military has defended its actions, stating that the strikes targeted militants posing threats or involved in past attacks. Hamas, on the other hand, accused Israel of ceasefire violations, with both sides allegedly breaching the agreement. Since the ceasefire’s implementation, over 1,070 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, and four Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza, according to official figures from the conflicting parties. Hamas does not disclose the number of its fighters killed during these conflicts.