GENEVA - Israel must immediately release Gazan doctor Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and ensure he is granted access to medical examination and treatment, UN experts* said today, after they received new reports that he had been subjected to "severe torture."
"We have received reports that Dr Abu Safiya has been subjected to torture and other cruel and degrading treatment, and that his health condition remains dire," the experts said.
"The conditions of his detention appear to be flagrantly arbitrary and manifestly inconsistent with the Mandela Rules, which establish the obligation of states to ensure prisoners have access to healthcare."
Dr Abu Safiya, who is the former director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza, has been detained by Israeli military forces since 27 December 2024, under Israel's unlawful combatant law, despite his status as a civilian medical practitioner. "We have repeatedly stressed that this law violates human rights and humanitarian law."
"He has been systematically denied critical medical examination and treatment, and deprived of essential care to such an extent that his life, health, and wellbeing have been gravely endangered," the experts said.
They recalled that all States have an international obligation to respect and protect health and care workers. "States must protect the wounded and sick in their care while they are in custody."
"Violence against healthcare workers, destruction of health facilities, and underlying determinants of health continue unabated despite a so-called ceasefire in Gaza," the experts said.
"As Israel's prisoner, Dr Abu Safiya, a highly respected Palestinian medical administrator and paediatrician, has suffered an arbitrary deprivation of liberty, violation of his human rights, including the right of every human being to be free from torture and ill treatment, and his right to health is being eroded," the experts said.
"States have the power to end his torment, and we call on them to use it," they said. "It is incumbent upon states with influence on Israel and the international community to use all avenues to ensure prevention, recourse and justice."
"Israel must release Dr Abu Safiya and all health care workers, and ensure they have access to appropriate medical care."
The experts have been in contact with the Government of Israel on this issue.
