The Israeli government fails to justify the imprisonment of 14 doctors from Gaza to the Supreme Court, and provides inadequate reassurances about the health of Dr. Abu Safiya

Today, in Israel’s Supreme Court, the Israeli government once more failed to address the startling illegality of its imprisonment, without charge or trial, of 14 doctors from Gaza, some of whom have been held for over 900 days, and provided unverifiable assurances that Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan hospital, who has been held for over a year and a half, is not at risk, despite his lawyer’s sworn statements that he has been subjected to severe beatings in recent weeks, since his transfer to solitary confinement, and that he fears for his life.

Physicians for Human Rights Israel submitted the petition to Israel’s Supreme Court on April 30, but the government has been persistently refusing to comply with the Court’s demands for it to submit evidence justifying its actions, and, most recently, for it to respond to the claims of severe ill-treatment made by Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer.

As PHRI explained on X, in its response to the petition, “the State says that Dr. Abu Safiya has been examined by medical personnel several times since being transferred to the underground ‘Rakefet’ detention facility” in Nitzan Prison.

“However”, they add, “the State does not explain why those examinations were necessary, what their findings were, or how they are consistent with its claim that his life is not in danger.” It also “does not address the serious allegations detailed in the sworn affidavit of Dr. Abu Safiya's lawyer, including severe injuries, repeated loss of consciousness, and a serious concern for his life.”

PHRI also explain that, “At the same time, the State asks the Court to dismiss, without a hearing, the petition by Physicians for Human Rights Israel seeking the release of 14 doctors from Gaza” — including Dr. Abu Safiya — “who are being held in Israel without charge.”

PHRI states that it “rejects the State's position, arguing that its response fails to address the central issue raised by the petition: the continued detention of 14 doctors without charge or trial despite the catastrophic shortage of medical personnel in Gaza and the ongoing collapse of its healthcare system.”

I would only add that, beyond the obvious need for these doctors’ presence in Gaza, no one should be held indefinitely without charge or trial, whether as “unlawful combatants”, under an unjustifiable 2002 law, or, just as unjustifiably, under the “administrative detention” system that Israel inherited from the British.

If the Israeli government has a case against these men, it should put them on trial. If not, it should free them immediately.