Calls grow for release of Gaza’s Dr Hussam Abu Safia after ceasefire deal

There person been conflicting reports connected whether Israel would escaped the salient Gaza medic arsenic portion of the truce agreement.

As Israeli and Palestinian captives instrumentality to their families arsenic portion of a ceasefire statement betwixt Israel and Hamas, the presumption of galore salient Palestinian detainees remains uncertain.

Among them is Palestinian doc Hussam Abu Safia, a infirmary manager successful Gaza who was abducted by Israeli forces successful December 2024 and has stayed successful detention contempt increasing calls for his merchandise and reports by his lawyer that helium has been tortured successful Israeli prison.

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Many Palestinian rights supporters spot Abu Safia arsenic the embodiment of the resilience of Palestinian medics, arsenic Israel systemically targeted Gaza’s wellness assemblage for much than 2 years.

It is unclear whether Abu Safia volition beryllium released arsenic portion of the ceasefire deal, which includes some Israelis held captive by Hamas successful Gaza and Palestinians swept up successful Gaza and imprisoned en masse by Israel, astir without complaint oregon trial.

But arsenic of the extremity of Monday, the doc has not been freed.

CNN reported implicit the play that Israel would not merchandise Abu Safia, citing a root from Hamas. However, the Israeli paper Haaretz reported connected Monday that Abu Safia was among 5 other names added to the database of Palestinians from Gaza to beryllium released.

The quality rights watchdog Amnesty International says that the infirmary manager has been held without complaint oregon proceedings nether an Israeli information instrumentality aft being arrested by Israeli forces astatine Kamal Adwan Hospital successful Gaza, wherever helium continued to enactment arsenic a paediatrician aft his lad was killed successful an Israeli aerial strike.

“Not until 11 February 2025 did Israeli authorities let Dr Abu Safiya to conscionable with a ineligible counsel,” the radical said successful a petition calling for his release. “In the latest sojourn by a lawyer to Ofer subject situation successful aboriginal July 2025, she reported that Dr Hussam and different detainees were subjected to battle and beatings.”

Amnesty International noted that Abu Safia had besides mislaid important value during his detention.

Palestinian detainees and rights groups person reported torture, intersexual unit and different abusive conditions successful Israeli captivity during the two-year warfare connected Gaza. Many of those released connected Monday amusement signs of maltreatment and important value loss.

“As we speak, Husam Abu Safiya is subjected to terrible torture,” a Palestinian detainee told Al Jazeera upon his merchandise successful Khan Younis successful Gaza.

Calls person grown successful caller days, aft the ceasefire woody was finalised, for Abu Safia’s release.

The Council connected American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged United States President Donald Trump to propulsion Israel to abide by the ceasefire deal.

“We besides telephone connected the President to request that Israel merchandise Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and each different kidnapped aesculapian professionals.”

UN adept Francesca Albanese suggested connected Friday that the deficiency of unit to merchandise civilian captives reflects the shortcomings of the ceasefire plan, which was enactment guardant by Trump.

“There cannot beryllium bid without justice, quality rights and dignity of ALL. Palestinian lives matter,” Albanese wrote connected X.