UN Experts Demand Release of Gaza Doctor Detained Since December 2024

What happened

Middle East Eye Gaza reports that United Nations independent experts have called on Israel to immediately release Palestinian physician Dr Hussam Abu Safiya along with other health and care workers held under what the experts describe as arbitrary detention.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The experts, including special rapporteurs Francesca Albanese, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Morris Tidball-Binz, and Ben Saul, assert that Abu Safiya’s continued detention without charge or trial exemplifies a wider pattern of targeting Palestinian health workers, which they say is contributing to the systematic destruction of Gaza’s health system.

Abu Safiya, who is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, was detained by Israeli forces on 27 December 2024 during a period when the hospital was reportedly the last functioning medical facility in northern Gaza. The detention reportedly occurred alongside other medical staff and patients under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law.

Known from the source

• UN independent experts have called for the release of detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya and other health workers in Gaza.
• Abu Safiya has been held without charge or trial since 27 December 2024.
• He was detained while serving as director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, reportedly the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza at the time.
• The detention was conducted under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which UN experts say conflicts with international humanitarian and human rights law.
• The experts characterize the detention as arbitrary and part of a broader targeting of Gaza’s health workers and health system.

What remains unclear

The experts contend that this law is incompatible with international humanitarian and human rights law. They argue that the targeting of medical personnel is part of a strategy causing severe mental and physical harm to Palestinians by degrading healthcare provision amid ongoing hostilities.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of the claim that the Unlawful Combatants Law is incompatible with international law as described by the experts. Independent confirmation of Abu Safiya’s detention status and conditions. Any official Israeli statements or responses confirming or denying the detention and its legal basis.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Middle East Eye Gaza. Open the source.