Press Releases
9 January 2025
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Gaza, 10 January 2025 — On 9 January 2025, the Ashkelon Magistrates' Court extended the detention without charges of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya until 13 February 2025. Dr. Abu Safiya, who Al Mezan’s attorney is representing, was abducted by Israeli forces from Kamal Adwan Hospital on 27 December 2024. On 8 January 2025, Israeli authorities also ruled to extend the ban on Dr. Abu Safiya's access to legal counsel until 22 January 2025. This marks the second such extension since his arrest.
On the day of Dr. Abu Safiya's abduction, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, taking him and other medical staff and civilians who were present at the facility into their custody. He was later reported to be held at Sde Teiman, a military detention center where Al Mezan and other organizations have documented systematic torture practices against Palestinians. Al Mezan’s attorney has received indications that Dr. Abu Safiya may now be held in Ofer Prison.
The arbitrary detention of Dr. Abu Safiya and his colleagues is part of a broader pattern of systematic violations by Israel, aimed at the deliberate devastation of Gaza’s healthcare system. This intentional policy includes relentless military attacks targeting healthcare facilities and personnel, sieges and raids on hospitals, and the abduction of dozens of medical staff. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than a thousand Palestinian health and care workers in Gaza, with at least 330 healthcare professionals taken into custody during Israeli ground operations. Among those abducted while performing their duties were Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh and Dr. Iyad Al-Rantisi, who were both killed under torture while in Israeli detention.
Al Mezan expresses profound alarm for Dr. Abu Safiya’s safety and well-being, gravely fearing that he may be subjected to severe torture, retaliation, or other forms of coercion, particularly given the ongoing and deliberate denial of access to a lawyer. We strongly condemn his arbitrary detention, emphasizing that it constitutes a clear violation of international law, which mandates respect and protection for medical personnel and guarantees the right to a fair trial.
Al Mezan calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abu Safiya, as well as all Palestinians arbitrarily arrested and detained by Israeli authorities, including healthcare workers. We urgently appeal to the international community, particularly Israel's enabling allies, to exert pressure on Israel to secure their release and to end the systematic and severe human rights violations against Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Update on Dr. Abu Safiya’s Arbitrary Detention and Denial of Access to Legal Counsel, Referred to UN Special Procedures
Israeli Court Extends Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya's Detention: Al Mezan Calls for Immediate Release and Safeguards for Detained Healthcare Workers
Five Gaza Detainees Die in Israeli Custody; Al Mezan Calls for International Action to Protect Palestinian Detainees
Israel’s Policy of Deliberate Medical Neglect Aggravate Epidemics and Skin Diseases Among Palestinian Prisoners and Detainees
Ofer Prison: IPS Conducted a 3-Day Campaign of Unrestrained Violence against Palestinian Detainees