TEL AVIV — Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was arrested by Israeli forces in December 2024 and remains detained without charges. His lawyer, Nasser Odeh, stated that Abu Safiya appeared critically ill during a visit on July 2, 2026, exhibiting extreme weakness and difficulty breathing.

Odeh observed recent head injuries around Abu Safiya's eyes, ears, and neck. Physicians for Human Rights Israel reported that guards brought Abu Safiya into the visit with his hands and feet bound, and masked officers surrounded him throughout. The organization also reported that Abu Safiya has suffered repeated loss of consciousness. Odeh said Abu Safiya has faced physical and psychological abuse and was kept in solitary confinement for extended periods.

During a recent video appearance at a hearing before Israel's Supreme Court, Hussam Abu Safiya appeared pale and gaunt, with lash-like marks visible on both arms.

The Israeli military stated it is investigating Abu Safiya on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas. Staff and international aid groups who worked with Abu Safiya deny these claims. Israeli authorities have classified him as an "unlawful combatant."

Odeh and Physicians for Human Rights Israel have petitioned for Abu Safiya to be transferred to another facility. Naji Abbas, director of the Prisoners and Detainees Department at Physicians for Human Rights, stated, "The information we received raises serious and immediate concerns for Abu Safiya's life." Abbas described the lawyer's testimony as "among the most shocking we have heard since the beginning of the war: a man detained without charge tells his lawyer that he believes they will kill him, after he arrived for the visit injured, suffering from difficulty breathing, and on the verge of losing consciousness."

Israel's Prison Service stated that allegations of abuse against Abu Safiya are "false and entirely without factual basis." The service added, "The Israel Prison Service rejects allegations of abuse, torture, starvation, or denial of medical treatment." It stated that all prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law and receive medical care based on Ministry of Health guidelines.

In March 2026, United Nations experts called on Israel to immediately release Abu Safiya and ensure he receives medical care. He is one of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza currently held by Israel without charge. Hussam Abu Safiya led Kamal Adwan Hospital through an 85-day siege by the Israeli military and released videos pleading for help prior to his arrest.

The detention of Hussam Abu Safiya and reports of his deteriorating health are part of ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces. His case involves broader issues of individuals held without charge and allegations of abuse by human rights organizations and the United Nations. The Israeli military's claims of cooperation with Hamas are disputed by those who worked with Abu Safiya.