An inquiry by the United Nations expressed worry on Wednesday regarding alleged mistreatment of a well-known Palestinian physician captured by the Israeli military in Gaza in December 2024 and still under Israeli detention, urging for his immediate release.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, inclusive of East Jerusalem, called for the release of Hussam Abu Safiya, who serves as the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip.
Various rights organizations and Abu Safiya’s legal representative have raised concerns about his precarious health condition and prolonged detention without formal charges, as stated by Physicians for Human Rights Israel, an Israeli human rights group.
The UN inquiry stated in a release, “The treatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli Prison Service guards raises serious alarm over potential violations of international law, amounting to possible international crimes. Dr. Abu Safiya’s health condition is a direct consequence of these actions.”
A spokesperson from the Israel Prison Service refuted the allegations on Wednesday, labeling them as false, outrageous, and devoid of factual basis.
While not directly mentioning Abu Safiya, the IPS spokesperson previously dismissed claims of mistreatment of him and other medical practitioners in prison.
Abu Safiya’s lawyer recently raised concerns about his deteriorating health and daily abuse. In June, Abu Safiya appeared visibly thinner during a Supreme Court hearing in Jerusalem conducted via video link.
The UN inquiry highlighted that the treatment of Abu Safiya by Israeli authorities is indicative of a broader pattern of violations identified in previous reports.
In September 2025, the inquiry accused Israeli authorities of engaging in genocide by targeting the healthcare system and medical professionals in Gaza since October 2023, a claim strongly refuted by Israel.
Israel has accused the inquiry of pursuing a political agenda against the country and straying from its mandate, declining cooperation with it.
Recently, a separate UN human rights body labeled Israel’s detention of Abu Safiya as arbitrary and demanded his immediate release.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Israel’s actions violated multiple articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Continuation of Deadly Attacks
Concurrently, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including two children aged 10 and six, in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to health officials.
Health workers reported that an Israeli airstrike near a school in Gaza City claimed one life. Twelve individuals sustained injuries in these incidents. The Israeli military stated that it targeted militants in Gaza City but was unaware of any casualties.
Another Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis’ Mawasi area hit a tent housing displaced individuals, leading to the deaths of at least four people, including a 10-year-old child.
Later the same day, Palestinian health officials reported the death of a six-year-old boy due to Israeli gunfire in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City.
Medics further reported that the Israeli military conducted two separate strikes in other parts of Gaza City, resulting in three fatalities and several injuries, bringing the day’s death toll to at least nine.
