Rights Group: Israel Arrests Gaza Doctor Abu Safiya Under ‘Unlawful Combatant’ Law

Date: 15 February 2025 - 22:12

News ID: ۱۳۶۹۰۷

WEST BANK (Dispatches) – Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights has revealed 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 February 12, 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 center 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 February 13.”
It pointed out that the centre’s lawyer: “Visited the detainee (Abu Safiya) on February 11 inside Ofer Prison, where he revealed that he had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment.”
The center 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 organization.
The center 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 December 28, 2024, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that the Israeli army had arrested Abu Safiya in the northern governorate.