UN inquiry urges release of Palestinian doctor jailed by Israel

Key Points:

• The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has called for the immediate release of Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safia, who has been jailed without charge by Israel for over 18 months and reportedly subjected to severe abuse.
• Abu Safia, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, shows signs of torture and serious health deterioration, with his lawyer and rights groups warning his condition is in grave danger due to daily mistreatment.
• Israeli authorities detained Abu Safia in December 2024, labeling him an “unlawful combatant,” a classification allowing prolonged detention without trial, amid broader allegations of human rights violations against Palestinian detainees.
• The Israel Prison Service has denied the claims of abuse, calling the UN inquiry’s accusations “false” and “without factual basis,” though it did not specifically address Abu Safia’s case.
• Abu Safia is among 14 Palestinian doctors held by Israel without charge, with UN bodies condemning these detentions as arbitrary and part of a larger pattern of violations against Gaza’s healthcare system.