Women Journalists Without Chains strongly condemns the decision by Israeli occupation authorities to extend the detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

The ruling, issued on April 28 by the Beersheba court, places Dr. Abu Safiya under indefinite detention pursuant to the “Unlawful Combatants Law.” This measure, taken without charge or transparent indictment, constitutes a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and represents a deliberate attack on the integrity of Gaza’s already devastated medical system.

Judicial Disappearance Under the “Unlawful Combatants Law”

The Beersheba court’s reliance on the “Unlawful Combatants Law” provides a façade of legality to what is, in practice, extrajudicial detention. This designation is systematically employed to strip civilians of due process rights guaranteed under the Fourth Geneva Convention. According to documentation by the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Dr. Abu Safiya is among approximately 1,251 Gazans currently held under this classification—a mechanism that permits indefinite detention without trial or access to a viable defense. JWB asserts that this policy is designed to neutralize the intellectual and humanitarian leadership of Palestinian society, with medical professionals bearing the brunt of this campaign.

The rejection of an immediate release petition, despite the absence of formal charges, underscores the weaponization of the legal system to facilitate the disappearance of protected medical personnel. Such practices erode the credibility of judicial institutions and expose the systematic use of law as a tool of repression.

A Pattern of Systematic Elimination

The detention of Dr. Abu Safiya is emblematic of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. Between October 7, 2023, and April 29, 2026, the toll has been catastrophic:

• Casualties: 72,599 Palestinians killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
• Medical Professionals: At least 1,702 medical staff killed, including senior specialists.
• Infrastructure: 788 medical facilities targeted; 25 hospitals rendered entirely inoperable, including the enclave’s only oncology center.
• Detentions: 362 medical personnel arrested, with 83 confirmed in custody, though the fate of many others remains unknown.

The deaths of prominent physicians such as Dr. Adnan al-Barsh, Dr. Iyad al-Rantisi, and Dr. Ziad al-Dalu while in custody—amid documented reports of torture—illustrate the lethal environment faced by detained healthcare workers. These cases reveal a systematic pattern of elimination that extends beyond battlefield casualties to the deliberate targeting of medical leadership.

Case Profile: Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya

Dr. Abu Safiya, a pediatrician by training, became a symbol of resilience as he managed Kamal Adwan Hospital under siege conditions. His personal sacrifices highlight the severity of the targeting:

• Personal Loss: On October 26, 2024, his son Ibrahim was killed in an Israeli strike near the hospital.
• Injury and Arrest: Despite being injured himself, Dr. Abu Safiya continued treating patients until the hospital was stormed on December 27, 2024.
• Physical Deterioration: Reports from legal counsel indicate severe physical assault and psychological pressure. He has reportedly lost 40 kilograms in detention, a stark indicator of grave ill-treatment and starvation tactics documented within Israeli prisons.

Dr. Abu Safiya’s ordeal reflects the broader attempt to dismantle Gaza’s medical leadership, leaving the population without essential care in the midst of unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Legal and Humanitarian Implications

The continued detention of Dr. Abu Safiya without charge violates the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which mandate the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones. The deliberate destruction of water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, combined with the removal of medical leaders, points to a clear intent to render life in Gaza unsustainable. Such actions may constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The systematic targeting of healthcare workers undermines the principle of medical neutrality, a cornerstone of humanitarian law. By criminalizing medical service, occupation authorities erode the last line of defense for civilians trapped in conflict.

Urgent Demands

Women Journalists Without Chains calls for immediate and decisive action:

1. Immediate Release: The unconditional release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and all healthcare workers detained without charge.
2. Independent Investigation: Establishment of an international commission of inquiry into the deaths of medical professionals in custody and the systematic targeting of health infrastructure.
3. End to Judicial Impunity: Suspension of the “Unlawful Combatants Law” as applied to civilians and protected persons.
4. International Intervention: Incorporation of these developments into the ICC’s ongoing investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.

Conclusion

The silence of the international community regarding the judicial disappearance of medical leaders is untenable. The detention of Dr. Abu Safiya epitomizes a broader campaign to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare system and extinguish the resilience of its medical professionals. Accountability is not optional—it is a legal and moral imperative. Women Journalists Without Chains urges states, institutions, and civil society to act decisively to protect medical neutrality and uphold the principles of international law.