Severely Beaten: Gaza Doctor Detained in Israeli Jail

Sun Sep 06 2026 18:04:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Lawyer reveals Gaza medical chief endured severe abuse at Rakefet prison, sparking calls for justice and release.

Doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, the former head of a Gaza hospital, has been held in Israeli custody without charge for over a year and a half. His lawyer Nasser Odeh says the doctor was beaten badly during a visit, with bruises covering his face and ears. The Israeli Prison Service rebuts these claims, while the Supreme Court, UN, and human‑rights groups demand his release and a review of his treatment. The case highlights wider concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

Severely Beaten: Gaza Doctor Detained in Israeli Jail

Doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, who ran a Gaza hospital during the war, has been held in an Israeli prison for 18 months without charge. In a shocking new report, his lawyer says the doctor was beaten so badly that his bruised face left him nearly unconscious.

The Brutal Visit

Odeh’s account: At Rakefet, the notorious interrogation center, Abu Safiya had multiple bruises on his ears, neck and eyes. He claimed guards used hands, batons and even hammers after a Supreme Court appeal on his case. He said he was “living in hell” and feared for his life.

Legal and Human‑Rights Response

The Israeli Prison Service denied the abuse allegations, stating Abu Safiya receives medical care.

Israel’s Supreme Court ordered a reply to a petition demanding the release of Abu Safiya and 13 other Gaza doctors.

The UN Committee on Arbitrary Detention called his detention “arbitrary” and urged immediate release.

Human‑rights groups PHRI and Amnesty International labeled the case “truly horrifying” and called for a transfer to a hospital.

Background Context

Abu Safiya was a colonel in a Hamas‑run health department that served police and security forces. The hospital he directed faced a near‑total siege, and his arrest in December 2024 followed an IDF claim that he was linked to terrorist activity. International bodies, including the WHO, have urged Israel to stop attacks on medical facilities.

What Comes Next?

The case is now a hinge point in the debate over Palestinian detainees’ treatment. Activists and legal experts are watching closely whether the Supreme Court will act on the petition and whether Israel will adjust its interrogation policies.