Palestinian human rights centre: Israel sent Kamal Adwan Hospital director for arrest

Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights revealed on Friday that the commander of the southern region of the Israeli army, Major General Yaron Finkelman, issued an order to transfer Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, for arrest under the Unlawful Combatant Law.

The Palestinian NGO shared: “On 12 February, the commander of the southern region of the occupation forces issued an order to transfer Abu Safiya (52) for arrest based on the Unlawful Combatant Law instead of a regular trial.”

The centre noted: “The Ashkelon (Israeli) court and the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights lawyer were informed of the order on the day of the detention extension session on 13 February.”

It pointed out that the centre’s lawyer: “Visited the detainee (Abu Safiya) on 11 February inside Ofer Prison, where he revealed that he had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment.”

The centre explained: “The Unlawful Combatant Law seriously violates the right to a fair trial, as it deprives the detainee of their right to be informed of the charge against them, and their right to discuss the evidence of the accusation and thus loses the ability to defend themselves.”

It pointed out that detainees under this law: “Wait 45 days for the Beersheba District Court to confirm their arrest order, with the possibility of extending their detention for additional periods of up to six months.”

Al Mezan stated that the decision to turn Abu Safiya into an “unlawful combatant” is an arbitrary, dangerous, illegal and retaliatory measure and also proves the failure of the Public Prosecution to prove its claims and the accusations it has brought against the detainee.”

“Using these methods with civilians, especially doctors, including torture that has previously led to death and ill-treatment, and despite the absence of any evidence to accuse Abu Safiya of any violation, it chose to deprive him of his most basic rights to a fair trial by turning him into a hostage,” asserted the organisation.

READ: A bereaved mother cannot forget the nightmare of Israeli soldiers storming Kamal Adwan Hospital

The centre called on the international community and United Nations: “To take the necessary measures to ensure the immediate release of Abu Safiya and other medical and humanitarian staff.”

On Tuesday, Abu Safiya’s family revealed in a statement that reached Anadolu Agency that he had been subjected to severe torture and starvation in Israeli prisons after a lawyer visited him.

On 28 December, 2024, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that the Israeli army had arrested Abu Safiya in the northern governorate.

A day earlier, the Israeli army stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, set it on fire and put it out of service, arresting more than 350 people inside, including Abu Safiya, whose photo in his white medical coat alone amid the destruction sparked a wave of Arab and international condemnation.

The family said that the lawyer informed them that Abu Safiya: “Was subjected to severe ill-treatment and torture in the first days of detention (in Israeli prisons) and was held in solitary confinement for 24 days, after which he was transferred to Ofer Prison.”

They pointed out that Abu Safiya: “Suffers from chronic high blood pressure and an enlarged heart muscle, and that he is not provided with enough food, only one meal, which is not enough, and the food is very bad.”

Regarding his legal case, the family quoted the lawyer, saying the file: “Is clean, and there are no indictments against him. He denied all the charges attributed to him (which he did not clarify) due to the lack of evidence.”

The lawyer clarified: “The possibility of his release in the coming stages (of the prisoner exchange agreement) because there is no case against him by the Israeli Public Prosecution.”

The lawyer confirmed that Abu Safiya: “Urges the entire world to help in order to release him and all the detained medical personnel from all hospitals and to protect them.”

At the end of the statement, the family appealed to: “Anyone who can help by pressuring him for the provision of appropriate food and medicine, as well as for his release as soon as possible.”