Israeli court rules to keep prominent Palestinian doctor in detention

Hussam Abu Safia has has been held without charge for more than 500 days.Israel’s Supreme Court has again rejected an appeal by prominent Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safia, who is being held under the Unlawful Combatants Law without any criminal charges being brought against him.Following the ruling on Tuesday, Abu Safia remains in solitary confinement in Nafha Prison in harsh conditions and continues to be denied necessary medical care, Israel" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="142909" data-entity-type="organization">Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) said, citing information from Abu Safiya’s lawyer Nasser Odeh.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israel’s October 7 tribunal: Show trial of Palestinians or justice?list 2 of 4UN experts urge Israel to free Gaza doctor amid reports of ‘severe torture’list 3 of 4Calls grow for release of Gaza’s Dr Hussam Abu Safia after ceasefire deallist 4 of 4A year on, Israel still holds Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safia without chargeend of listThe Palestinian doctor, who is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appealed for immediate release via video link last week after more than a year of imprisonment. Footage showed him looking noticeably thinner, and his family said he showed visible signs of torture.Abu Safia has been held without charge for more than 500 days, according to PHRI. He was abducted by Israel in late 2024 and has been held in detention since. The doctor defied Israeli forced displacement orders to leave the Gaza hospital where he worked, and instead stayed to treat his patients.The Palestinian Centre for Prisoners Advocacy condemned the decision “to approve the continuation of his detention under the so-called ‘Unlawful Combatants Law’ without presenting any charges against him or filing an indictment”.“The Centre holds the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for the life and safety of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, and calls for his immediate release, the provision of urgent medical care, and an end to the policy of arbitrary detention against medical and humanitarian personnel,” it said in a statement released on Tuesday.