Israeli occupation authorities extend detention of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya

Israel’s Beersheba court held a hearing on the morning of Thursday, 16 October 2025, to consider extending the detention of Dr. Hossam Idris Amer Abu Safiya (52), who attended via videoconference. During the hearing, the court issued an order extending his detention for six months under the Unlawful Combatant Law.
A lawyer from Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights attended the session and filed an objection to the legality of his detention, citing a lack of evidence to convict him and the absence of an indictment, which the lawyer said renders the detention unlawful.
It was noted that Israeli authorities arrested Abu Safiya on 27 December 2024 while he was working as director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Strip, and prevented him from receiving a lawyer visit for (47 days), during which he was allegedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment. He is currently held in Ofer prison.
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights denounced the Beersheba court’s extension decision.
Al-Mezan said the decision violates international law, particularly the protections afforded to healthcare workers, and breaches the right to fair trial guarantees, given that no indictment has been brought against the doctor and he has been denied the right to defend himself, including to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and present exculpatory evidence. The centre said this effectively leaves him as an arbitrarily detained hostage in the hands of the Israeli authorities, with no legal basis or fair judicial procedures, in a blatant violation of basic human rights and international humanitarian law.
The centre called for his immediate release, and for the release of all detained healthcare workers on the grounds that they are protected persons who should not be arrested or have their work obstructed under international law. It also urged the international community to intervene and put an end to ongoing Israeli violations, particularly against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.