UN inquiry urges release of Palestinian doctor jailed by Israel

The inquiry commission urges Israel to release Hussam Abu Safia, citing credible reports he has suffered ‘severe abuse’.A United Nations inquiry commission has called for Israel to immediately release a Palestinian doctor it has jailed without charge for more than 18 months.The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry ⁠on the Occupied Palestinian Territory made the appeal on Wednesday for Hussam Abu Safia, the 52-year-old director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, saying there are credible reports he has faced “continued and severe abuse”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN rights body demands release of Palestinian doctor detained by Israellist 2 of 3Hamas dissolves civilian governing body in Gaza after 20 yearslist 3 of 3Netanyahu says his ties with Trump are ‘fine’, takes aim at Turkiyeend of listAbu Safia’s lawyer Nasser Odeh has warned that the doctor’s health is in ⁠⁠grave danger as he faces daily abuse. Rights groups and his family say he shows signs of having been regularly tortured.During a recent visit, Abu Safia was found so severely wounded that Odeh struggled to recognise him, according to the rights group Israel" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="142909" data-entity-type="organization">Physicians for Human Rights Israel.Last month, footage of Abu Safia appearing via videolink before an Israeli court showed him looking noticeably thinner in his face and around his abdomen.“The Commission calls for the immediate, unconditional and safe release of Dr. Abu Safiya and of all medical personnel held in arbitrary detention by Israel,” the commission said in a statement, using a slightly different spelling of the doctor’s name. “It also urges the Israeli authorities to provide immediate independent medical care for Dr. Abu Safiya.”‘Grave concerns’Israeli authorities detained Abu Safia along with other medical staff and patients in December 2024. They classified him as an “unlawful combatant”, a designation Israel has used to hold Palestinians for prolonged periods without trial.