UN rights body demands release of Palestinian doctor detained by Israel

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued a formal warning regarding the detention of Palestinian physician Hussam Abu Safia, asserting that his continued imprisonment violates multiple provisions of international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The body has called for his immediate release and recommended that Israel provide him with enforceable compensation and reparations in accordance with established international legal standards.

Abu Safia, a paediatrician who previously served as director of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza, was apprehended by Israeli authorities in December 2024 along with other medical personnel and patients. He remains in custody without formal charges. His legal counsel, Nasser Odeh, has expressed serious concern about the doctor's physical condition, alleging he has endured systematic abuse during his detention. Family members and human rights organizations have documented what they characterize as evidence of regular torture.

The UN rights body has indicated that Abu Safia's case represents one of numerous investigations it has conducted, suggesting a potential pattern of systematic arbitrary detention practices. The Israeli Prison Service has not provided immediate comment on the allegations, though it has previously denied claims of mistreatment involving Abu Safia and other detained medical professionals. The Israeli Supreme Court has similarly declined to address appeals for his release. Prior to his detention, Abu Safia had been a vocal advocate for Gaza's severely compromised healthcare infrastructure, continuing his medical work despite personal tragedy, including the loss of his son in an Israeli military operation.