Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, who was captured by the Israeli military in Gaza in late 2024, appeared via video link before the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. The hearing, which took place while Abu Safiya remains in detention, was one of the first instances he was seen publicly.
During the hearing, Abu Safiya appeared visibly thinner in the face and abdominal area. The press was briefly allowed into the courtroom before journalists were ushered out.
Detention and health claims
The organization Physicians for Human Rights, which operates in Israel, states that Abu Safiya has been held for over 500 days without any charges. The same group argues the doctor has been denied adequate food and subjected to mistreatment in prison.
Abu Safiya's brother, Muafak, said that according to information relayed to the family through a lawyer in April, the doctor had lost 40 kilograms in prison, suffered four broken ribs, and experienced other ailments. The Israel Prison Service denied these claims.
What does the court application cover?
The Supreme Court reviewed an appeal against the detention filed by Abu Safiya's lawyer, Nasser Odeh. A decision is expected later on Wednesday.
Odeh said after the hearing that his client was brought before the court in handcuffs and chains and is being held in solitary confinement. He also stated that Abu Safiya is receiving medical treatment, is experiencing neck and back pain, and that this is linked either to an assault he suffered during detention or to medication given for a chronic condition.
The lawyer said the doctor's glasses were also confiscated, leading to vision problems, and that his hands showed signs of a skin condition said to be widespread among Palestinians in prison. The Israel Prison Service did not immediately respond to these questions about Abu Safiya's prison conditions.
Healthcare workers taken from Gaza
According to Physicians for Human Rights, Abu Safiya is among 14 Palestinian doctors detained by the Israeli military in Gaza and held for over a year without charges. The organization had called for their release in April, raising allegations of insufficient healthcare, inadequate food, and inhumane treatment.
The Israel Prison Service had also denied all allegations of mistreatment against the doctors at that time. According to the organization's data, the number of Palestinian healthcare workers held in detention by Israel has approached 400 during the ongoing attacks on Gaza.
Abu Safiya was taken from the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. The Israeli military accuses him of being a Hamas member, though it has not presented any public and verifiable evidence to confirm this claim. The Gaza Health Ministry and Hamas deny the accusation.
The case is being closely watched due to the war's impact on Gaza's health system and the situation of detained medical workers. The court's decision will determine the course of the legal process regarding Abu Safiya's detention.
