UN Calls for Immediate Release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Detained by Israel

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that the continued detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician and former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, violates international law and demands his immediate release. Abu Safiya has been held without charge since December 2024 after Israeli forces stormed his hospital, during which his son was killed. He alleges systematic beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and visible signs of torture.

Human‑rights groups note that Abu Safiya's case mirrors a broader pattern of arbitrary detention of Palestinian journalists by Israeli authorities under the Unlawful Combatants Law. Nineteen journalists remain detained, reporting blindfolded beatings and denial of due process. The UN Working Group’s findings add to international calls, including statements from the Palestinian Centre for Prisoner Studies, urging diplomatic and legal pressure on Israel to comply with humanitarian standards.