The director of a prominent Gaza hospital, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, has been detained by Israeli forces, sparking international concern for his safety and well-being. The arrest occurred after an Israeli military raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which led to the facility's closure and the detention of numerous individuals.
Video footage verified by NBC News shows Dr. Abu Safiya, wearing a medical coat, walking towards an Israeli military vehicle amidst rubble-strewn streets. The Israeli military confirmed the detention, stating he is a "suspect" being questioned for "potential involvement in terrorist activity." This claim comes despite Dr. Abu Safiya's prior warnings about the dangers of the raid to patients, including premature infants.
Prior to his detention, Dr. Abu Safiya had posted videos showing a bomb dropped near the hospital, underscoring the dangers faced by the medical facility. Simultaneously, videos surfaced depicting men, stripped to minimal clothing, being led away and fires breaking out at the hospital. While the Israeli military denied any connection between their activities and the fire, these events have compounded concerns.
Since Friday, Dr. Abu Safiya's whereabouts remain unknown. International organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have urgently called for his immediate release, emphasizing that the raid has forced Kamal Adwan Hospital out of service. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that hospitals in Gaza are again being turned into "battlegrounds."
Hospitals and medical workers are protected under international law, but the Israeli military alleges that Kamal Adwan Hospital was being used as a Hamas command center. They claim over 240 individuals detained were "terrorists." These accusations contrast with statements from local health officials who dispute the claim that hospitals are utilized for military purposes.
Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have expressed deep concern over Dr. Abu Safiya's fate and are demanding his unconditional release. Critically ill patients from Kamal Adwan have been transferred to the already compromised Indonesian Hospital and some to Al-Shifa Hospital. Despite these efforts, the WHO reports that four patients were detained during their medical aid delivery operations.
The ongoing conflict has severely damaged Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, with many facilities left in ruins after more than a year of attacks by Israeli forces. Kenneth Roth, former director of Human Rights Watch, explained that while a destroyed hospital loses its protected status, it’s only valid to attack facilities if actively being used for military purposes.
The situation at Kamal Adwan has also drawn strong condemnation from organizations like MedGlobal, who stated that the raid is a "brutal violation of a protected medical space.” The loss of a facility like Kamal Adwan has left the northern part of Gaza with even less healthcare. These events are occurring amid the larger conflict in Gaza that began on October 7th, escalating a conflict that has led to a significant number of deaths and a major humanitarian crisis.
