Arabic version: طلب المحكمة الإسرائيلية يسعى لإطلاق سراح الأطباء المحتجزين في غزة
An Israeli human rights organisation has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, requesting the immediate release of 14 doctors from Gaza who have been held without charge for more than a year. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) submitted the petition on Thursday after the Israeli military’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, did not respond to their previous request for the doctors’ release. The detained group includes various specialists, such as paediatricians and surgeons.
According to Al Jazeera, the ongoing detention of these medical professionals is severely impacting efforts to rehabilitate Gaza’s healthcare system, which has been devastated during the prolonged conflict. Among the detained is Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been imprisoned since December 2024. Reports indicate that he has lost 40kg (88lb) and suffered physical injuries while in custody.
Dr. Abu Safia’s brother, Muafaq, reported that he has endured severe health issues in prison, including fractures and weight loss, asserting that the reason for his brother’s detention was his refusal to abandon his patients. United Nations experts have highlighted concerns regarding the treatment of Dr. Abu Safia, suggesting he has faced severe torture. Amnesty International has criticized his detention as part of a larger strategy by Israel to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with numerous aid organisations warning of critical shortages in medical supplies due to Israeli restrictions. Medical professionals who have visited Gaza have described the conditions as unimaginable, particularly during the peak of the conflict in 2025, when access to essential resources was severely limited. Israel has denied any intention to target medical workers, attributing the circumstances to Hamas’s alleged use of hospitals for military purposes, although no substantial evidence has been provided to support these claims.
