Dr Abu Safiya has STILL not been released by Israel – and the UK is doing nothing

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has written to the foreign minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer, regarding Israel’s continued arbitrary detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, asking for the minister to push for his release.

Dr Abu Safiya: the UK government must act

Dr Hussam Abu Safiya is a 51-year-old Palestinian paediatrician, and the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital.

By November 2024, it was the last major functioning medical facility in the North of Gaza. He was arrested by Israel on 27 December 2024 when Israeli forces raided the hospital. Dr Abu Safiya’s fate remains unknown.

He was initially held at Sde Teiman military base, according to the testimonies of two released Palestinian detainees. He was reportedly transferred to Ofer detention facility near Ramallah on 9 January 2025.

There is evidence of mistreatment and torture of Palestinians in both of these Israeli detention facilities, raising concerns about the conditions of Dr Abu Safiya’s confinement. He has further been denied access to legal counsel, ostensibly until 22 January 2025, though his detention has been extended until 13 February 2025.

Foreign minister Falconer raised Dr Abu Safiya’s case with the Israeli deputy foreign minister and Israel’s ambassador to the UK on 7 January 2025. Yesterday, ICJP wrote to the foreign minister asking for clarity on what actions he had taken since then to raise concerns regarding the treatment of the doctor and pushing for his release.

The case of Dr Abu Safiya is emblematic of Israel’s longstanding practice of arbitrary detention against Palestinians, as well as its broader pattern of systematic targeting of the medical infrastructure and medical personnel in Gaza.

Israel’s impunity

A further high-profile case is that of Dr Adnan Al-Bursh who died after having been tortured in Israeli prison after being arbitrarily detained for more than four months.

In the letter, ICJP called on the government to disclose what steps it has taken to enquire about Dr Abu Safiya and the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza more broadly, and what correspondence he has had with Israeli authorities.

Dr Abu Safiya must be allowed immediate access to his legal counsel and to his fundamental legal rights, and it is essential that the UK government puts this case forcefully to the Israelis.

Featured image via screengrab