Key facts
- Over 800 UK medical professionals signed an open letter demanding the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya.
- Dr. Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician, has been held by Israel for over 550 days without charge.
- Reports indicate Dr. Abu Safiya has suffered torture, including bruising and daily beatings.
- His health condition is described as severe, with concerns he is being denied medical treatment.
- The letter calls on the UK government to use all available tools to secure his immediate release.
More than 800 doctors, nurses, and medical professionals in the UK have signed an open letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging her to intervene to secure the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. Dr. Abu Safiya, a Palestinian paediatrician and director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, has been held in Israeli captivity for over 550 days without charge or trial since December 27, 2024.
The letter, coordinated by Amnesty International UK and Health Workers 4 Palestine, calls for the UK government to publicly demand his immediate release and utilize all economic, political, and diplomatic tools. Reports from a lawyer visiting an Israeli detention facility indicate Dr. Abu Safiya has suffered extensive bruising and marks of torture, leaving him weak and barely recognizable. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) stated he has endured daily beatings and solitary confinement since being transferred to the Rakevet facility within Ayalon Prison.
Dr. Abu Safiya's son has issued an emotional appeal, warning that his father's health is severe and that he is "living through critical moments between life and death." He reportedly told his lawyer, "This is the last time you’ll see me… they brought me here to kill me."
Amnesty International UK's chief executive, Kerry Moscogiuri, stated that Dr. Abu Safiya is being tortured to death for refusing to abandon his patients and that the UK government must act forcefully. Amira Nimerawi, CEO of Health Workers 4 Palestine, accused the British government of allowing the doctor to "die slowly in an Israeli prison cell due to lack of political will."
Dr. Abu Safiya refused Israeli orders to leave Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza. Following his refusal, Israeli forces stormed the hospital, detaining 44 staff members and killing his son Ibrahim in a drone strike. At the time, Dr. Abu Safiya was documenting attacks on the hospital and pleading for international action.
The signatories highlight that his detention and abuse are not isolated incidents, noting that over 400 other healthcare workers in Gaza have been arbitrarily detained since October 2023. They also state that Israel has killed over 1,700 medical workers in Gaza and damaged or destroyed every hospital, actions described as evidence of "genocidal intent" and a "medicide" by UN experts.
Healthcare workers and facilities are protected under international law. The health workers are calling on the UK government to ensure accountability for the arbitrary detention and killing of all Palestinian healthcare workers, supporting investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, a signatory, commented that the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system was central to the genocidal campaign. Another signatory, Dr. Omar Abdel Mannan, urged the Foreign Secretary to demand Dr. Abu Safiya’s release and back it with sanctions on Israel.
Calls for Dr. Abu Safiya's release have been growing internationally, with protests held in the UK. A group of UN experts stated he was illegally detained under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which they previously flagged as incompatible with international law. Dr. Abu Safiya's Supreme Court appeal against his detention was rejected on June 16, extending his detention without charge until at least October 2026.