The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that Israel’s detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician from Gaza, stands in violation of international human rights law and urged his immediate release. The call for action comes amid serious warnings about the doctor’s deteriorating physical condition and allegations of torture he has faced in custody.
The panel’s findings highlighted multiple breaches of key international frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It pointed out three core issues: the lack of charges against Abu Safiya, his inability to contest the detention legally, and a breach of fair trial standards with the use of secret evidence. Furthermore, the detention was deemed discriminatory, reflecting broader systemic issues under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, a point underscored by the panel’s observation of potentially widespread arbitrary detention practices in Israel (JURIST).
Dr. Abu Safiya, detained since December 2024, was accused by Israeli forces of ties to Hamas—an allegation denied by both Hamas and the Gaza Health Ministry. Following his detention, rights groups, including the MENA Rights Group, have documented his harsh living conditions, which reportedly involve solitary confinement and physical abuse.
In March 2026, the situation drew the attention of UN Special Rapporteurs after reports of severe torture surfaced. Recent visits by his lawyer, Nasser Odeh, indicated a significant decline in his health, raising fears about his survival. Despite these concerns, an appeal for his release was dismissed by Israel’s Supreme Court, which relied on undisclosed evidence (Al-Monitor).
The Israeli authorities have not given a detailed response to the UN’s inquiry into the detention’s legal basis, and both the Israel Prison Service and Israeli authorities have refrained from commenting on the current findings. These developments have added to the controversy surrounding the detention of several other Gazan doctors, who have been held without charge for over a year, highlighting ongoing concerns about arbitrary detention practices under the Unlawful Combatants Law.