Emaciated Gaza Hospital Director Held in Israel for 18 Months Sparks Global Outcry

The legal hearing in which Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appeared by video from a detention facility in Israel sparked an international uproar on Thursday. In footage that was published, Abu Safiya was seen handcuffed and speaking remotely during the legal proceeding, in an event that drew worldwide attention.

He was not included in release deals because of the severity of the suspicions against him. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was arrested during an IDF raid on the hospital in December 2024. Israel has said that armed terrorists also operated inside the hospital compound during the fighting, and that the site was allegedly used for military activity.

According to Israeli sources, Abu Safiya was presented for years as a pediatrician and hospital director, but in practice was involved in organizational activity within Hamas, including participation in official events of the organization and documentation of him alongside senior figures. Palestinian sources, by contrast, claimed that this was an attack on medical institutions and that the arrest violates the principles of international humanitarian law.

According to Israeli sources, Abu Safiya is being held in Israel for continued questioning and detention. It was also claimed that his name had not previously been included in exchanges for the release of Palestinian detainees, in part because of the severity of the allegations against him.

Numerous posts on social media portrayed Abu Safiya as a central medical figure who had worked for years in the northern Strip, especially during the recent fighting, when hospitals in northern Gaza were under heavy pressure. Gaza influencers claimed that “his only crime was not abandoning his patients,” and presented him as a pediatrician who continued working under harsh conditions while putting himself at personal risk.

At the same time as the Palestinian claims, details and footage had previously been published in Israel indicating that Dr. Abu Safiya is also identified with activity within the terrorist organization Hamas. Among other things, Israel published a photo of him wearing Hamas uniform, and according to security sources, he was presented as a senior doctor in the organization’s military medical system and allegedly as someone who held a military rank.

Palestinian sources and human rights activists who saw the footage from the hearing said Abu Safiya’s physical condition is worrying. Online reactions said he appeared exhausted, significantly thinner, and showing signs of injury. However, no official medical documents were presented to verify the claims.

Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Nasser Abu Odeh, said his client denies the accusations against him and claims he is being held illegally. He quoted Abu Safiya during the hearing: “I am a pediatrician, I provided medical treatment to the wounded and the sick in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards. My arrest is arbitrary and illegal, and I demand my immediate release.”

It was also claimed on his behalf that Abu Safiya is being held in prolonged solitary confinement and is not receiving proper medical treatment, and that he attends hearings while handcuffed throughout the proceedings. Israel, for its part, has not provided the public with full official details about the evidence in his case, but security officials said this is a matter of security sensitivity. Serious allegations were also raised regarding his alleged dual identity as both a doctor and a Hamas operative, allegations that continue to stir public and international controversy.

First published: 23:59, 11.06.26