Rights Group Alleges Israeli Neglect of Jailed Gaza Doctor's Health Amid Ongoing Strikes

An Israeli rights group has voiced grave concerns over the deteriorating health of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, who is currently imprisoned by Israeli authorities. This comes as the Israeli army continues its offensive operations in the Gaza Strip. The Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) reported that two Israeli courts on Wednesday rejected petitions aimed at securing the release of 14 doctors from Gaza who are being held without charge, and also denied a request for an independent medical examination for Dr. Abu Safia.

PHRI stated that an independent medical review of Dr. Abu Safia’s records revealed a significant weight loss of 14kg (31lb) over four months, a marked decrease in hemoglobin levels, and chest pain that has not received adequate investigation. The reviewer, Amit Tirosh, was prevented from personally examining Dr. Abu Safia. Tirosh contested an Israeli court’s assertion that high blood pressure was his sole medical issue, noting that the ruling “does not line up with the data.” PHRI further alleges that the Israel Prison Service has refused to provide Dr. Abu Safia’s most recent medical file.

“Not only has he been deprived of his freedom without trial, but he is also being denied his basic right to an independent medical examination,” stated Naji Abbas of PHRI. Dr. Abu Safia was apprehended by the Israeli army in December 2024 during an operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

PHRI also reported on Wednesday that the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the release of 14 doctors, including hospital directors and specialists in critical medical fields, who are detained in Israeli prisons without formal charges or trial. PHRI argued that these prolonged arbitrary detentions, some exceeding two years, violate individual rights and further cripple Gaza’s healthcare system, which is already suffering from a severe scarcity of medical professionals.

The Supreme Court upheld the Chief of Staff’s decision not to release the doctors, finding no grounds for intervention. The court acknowledged that the doctors' cases had been reviewed in light of evolving circumstances and the shortage of medical personnel in Gaza, but concluded that no exceptional reasons justified their release.

Gaza's healthcare sector has been devastated by Israel's military campaign in the enclave since October 2023, with approximately 90 percent of its infrastructure damaged or destroyed. In separate incidents, sources at al-Shifa Hospital reported that an Israeli drone strike in western Gaza City resulted in one Palestinian fatality and injured others. Additionally, a Palestinian died from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack on a family home in Gaza City on Tuesday. Gaza continues to experience regular Israeli attacks, despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year. According to the territory’s Ministry of Health, over 1,600 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the besieged enclave since the United States-brokered agreement.