Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Gaza Doctor's Appeal, Upholding Continued Detention

The Supreme Court of Israel has denied an appeal filed by the defense team of Hussam Abu Safiya, a hospital director from Gaza, ruling that he will remain in prison indefinitely. Abu Safiya has been in detention since December 2024.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI), an NGO, reported that the court's decision "upholds the indefinite detention of a hospital director who remains in solitary confinement and suffers from health problems that are not receiving adequate treatment." PHRI communicated with Abu Safiya's lawyer, Nasser Odeh, who stated that his client is being held in isolation at Nafha prison in the Negev desert.

According to the organization, Abu Safiya is being denied necessary medical care, and his health is deteriorating. He is the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. His arrest by the Israeli army occurred after months of siege at the hospital. Images from his arrest showed him walking in white medical attire towards an Israeli tank.

Abu Safiya appeared via video call for his appeal hearing on June 10, marking his first public appearance since February 2025. Although he appeared in clean white clothing and with a recent haircut, which is unusual for Palestinian prisoners who are often deprived of hygiene and clean clothes, he appeared tired, had lost significant weight, and bore marks on his arms.

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The court has upheld the indefinite detention of a hospital director who remains in solitary confinement and suffers from health problems that are not receiving adequate treatment.