Gaza, 25 March 2025 — Earlier today, the Be’er Sheva District Court, an Israeli civilian court, reviewed and upheld the detention order issued on 12 February 2025 by the Commander of the Southern Command of the Israeli army against Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, extending his arbitrary detention for another six months. Under the Unlawful Combatants Law, such detention orders must be reviewed by an Israeli civilian court within 45 days of issuance and subsequently every six months. This apartheid law is used by Israeli authorities to incarcerate Palestinian residents of Gaza, including Dr. Abu Safiya, without charge or fair trial, circumventing basic protections under international law.

During the hearing, the Southern District Prosecutor submitted a secret file to the court, alleging that Dr. Abu Safiya poses a threat to the security of the State of Israel. In response, Al Mezan’s legal team, representing Dr. Abu Safiya, asserted his innocence and emphasized that he was solely performing medical and administrative duties at Kamal Adwan Hospital. The defense also requested access to the classified investigation materials; however, the prosecution declined, and the court upheld the refusal.

Dr. Abu Safiya was abducted by Israeli forces on 27 December 2024 at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, along with several other hospital staff and civilians. He was denied access to his lawyer for 47 days following his arrest.

Al Mezan emphasized that the extension of Dr. Abu Safiya’s arbitrary detention by the Be’er Sheva District Court is a clear breach of international law, particularly the fundamental right to a fair trial. Neither the court nor the prosecution disclosed the charges or the purported secret evidence on which the case was based, effectively denying the defense any opportunity to contest the allegations—a core component of due process. This decision further underscores the complicity of Israeli civilian courts in sustaining Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and enforcing its apartheid regime against the Palestinian people.

Accordingly, Al Mezan strongly condemns all actions taken by Israeli forces, authorities, and the Israeli judiciary against Dr. Abu Safiya, beginning with his abduction and enforced disappearance between 27 December 2024 and 7 January 2025, followed by 47 days of incommunicado detention. During this period, he was subjected to torture, ill-treatment, solitary confinement, denial of adequate medical care, and prolonged deprivation of access to legal counsel.

Al Mezan unequivocally condemns the current arbitrary detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and hundreds of other Palestinian detainees under the Unlawful Combatants Law by Israeli authorities and considers it a gross violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. We once again reiterate our urgent call on the international community—particularly Israel’s enabling allies—to take immediate action to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abu Safiya, as well as of all Palestinians who have been unlawfully arrested and arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities, including hundreds of healthcare workers.