09-02-2025
Global medical community fears for safety of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
released a report concerning medical professionals from around the globe expressing deep concern for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, who was taken into custody by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during a raid on Dec. 27, 2024.
Since his detention, there have been no updates regarding his safety or well-being, raising fears that he may suffer a fate similar to Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh, an orthopedic surgeon who died in IOF custody in April after being arrested during a military operation in the Jabalya refugee camp.
Abu Safiya's arrest has ignited widespread outrage among healthcare workers, who view it as part of a systematic targeting of medical professionals in Gaza.
Dr. Semia Sadfi Charbonnier, a general practitioner in Geneva and a member of the International Healthcare Workers Coalition, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "We're very, very afraid of that," referring to reports of torture in IOF detention.
She added, "Because Dr. Abu Safiya is like a symbol of resistance, and Israel doesn't like that. They want to cut the head of all resistance of the Palestinian people."
Charbonnier described Abu Safiya as a highly respected figure, saying, "For us, Dr. Hussam is more than a doctor. He's a hero." She called for stronger international pressure on "Israel", insisting that mere resolutions are insufficient and highlighting the need to end the impunity surrounding such actions.
Sara Galli, an anesthesiologist in the Netherlands and spokesperson for Doctors for Gaza, echoed these sentiments, raising alarms about the treatment of healthcare workers in Gaza. She pointed to documented instances of abuse, torture, and deaths under Israeli Occupation detention, emphasizing that the broader context of human rights violations cannot be overlooked.
Galli cited high-profile cases of detained medical professionals, including a hospital director held for eight months without evidence and a pediatrician who suffered severe weight loss due to starvation.
"We have had multiple accounts of abuse and torture, both to medical personnel and regular Palestinian detainees," Galli stated, adding that these allegations have been substantiated by credible international organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International.
She criticized the lack of concrete evidence supporting accusations against Palestinian healthcare workers, arguing, "There have been a lot of accusations, but there's not been any proof."
Dr. Huseyin Durmaz, a family physician in Gaziantep, Turkiye, characterized the detention of Abu Safiya as "an unprecedented event in the world."
He lamented the potential torture and lack of communication surrounding Abu Safiya's case, declaring, "We will not stop until Dr. Abu Safiya and all detained healthcare workers are released, returned to their duties, and those responsible are held accountable."
