Supreme Court Denies Appeal for Kamal Adwan Physician
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the former Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, remains in Israeli detention without formal charges for over 500 days. His legal team, led by Nasser Odeh, confirmed that the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal for his release on June 10. During a video-link hearing, the physician appeared visibly emaciated.
Indefinite Confinement Under Unlawful Combatants Law
Dr. Abu Safiya is currently held under Israel’s “Unlawful Combatants Law,” a statute permitting indefinite detention without having to file charges against them. According to Nasser Odeh, the state has not presented an indictment against the doctor, nor has it provided evidence to support his continued imprisonment.
Held in solitary confinement at Nafha Prison, Abu Safiya has been difficult to reach. His lawyers report that the lack of consistent contact has hindered their ability to obtain verified information about his health. While the detention is subject to judicial review by the district court every six months, that process has repeatedly resulted in the extension of his confinement.
Allegations of Abuse and Worsening Health
Testimony from former detainees released in March provides the first detailed accounts of the conditions Abu Safiya has faced since reports of his torture first emerged in January 2025. Ahmad Qaddas, who reported spending time in the same facility, alleged that Abu Safiya suffered from extreme weight loss, physical abuse, and food deprivation.
Nasser Odeh corroborated these concerns, noting that the doctor suffers from chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, which have been exacerbated by his treatment in custody. The legal team has previously petitioned prison authorities for medical intervention, specifically requesting that Abu Safiya receive his blood pressure medication and a formal examination by a prison physician.
A Broader Pattern of Medical Detentions
The case of Dr. Abu Safiya is one of several involving Palestinian medical personnel detained during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His lawyer states that Abu Safiya is one of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza currently being held in Israeli detention facilities.
This follows the death of Dr. Adnan al-Bursh of al-Awda Hospital, who died in mid-April 2024 while held at Ofer Prison. Reports indicated that al-Bursh showed signs of physical trauma upon his arrival at the facility. To date, Israeli authorities have not released his body.
Legal Impasse at the Two-Year Mark
As of June 2026, the Israeli judicial system continues to uphold the detention of Dr. Abu Safiya. The lack of a formal indictment remains a central point of contention for his legal defense, which argues that the absence of charges renders the detention arbitrary under international humanitarian principles. The doctor remains in solitary confinement, with his legal team continuing to advocate for his medical care and eventual release.
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