The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has called on Israel to immediately release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, describing his detention as "arbitrary" and raising concerns about his deteriorating health while in Israeli custody.

he UNHRC said the continued detention of Dr. Abu Safiya violates multiple provisions of international human rights law, including articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other binding international treaties protecting individuals from arbitrary arrest and detention.

The council also expressed broader concern over what it described as the possible widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention by Israeli authorities, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The renewed call for Dr. Abu Safiya's release comes amid mounting reports about his worsening medical condition. On Saturday, the rights group Physicians for Human Rights said the Palestinian doctor's health had significantly deteriorated following his transfer to the Rakevet wing of Nitzan Prison in the city of Ramla.

According to the organization, attorney Nasser Odeh visited Dr. Abu Safiya on July 2 and documented what were described as serious physical injuries, signs of assault, breathing difficulties, and repeated episodes of loss of consciousness.

The attorney reported that Dr. Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting in shackles and accompanied by masked prison guards. He allegedly displayed extensive bruising and visible injuries to his head, eyes, ears, and neck. The rights group said the injuries were so severe that he was difficult to recognize.

Physicians for Human Rights has urged Israeli authorities to provide immediate medical treatment and ensure independent monitoring of his condition, warning that his health may be at serious risk.

The issue has also reached Israel's judicial system. On Sunday, Israel's Supreme Court ordered the government to provide information regarding Dr. Abu Safiya's medical condition by Tuesday, responding to a petition filed by Physicians for Human Rights.

The petition seeks the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza who are being held by Israeli authorities without charge or trial. The court instructed the government to address what it described as "serious allegations" concerning Dr. Abu Safiya's life, health, and treatment in detention.

Dr. Abu Safiya was arrested by Israeli forces on December 27, 2024, during a military raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza while the facility was operating under wartime conditions and treating patients amid ongoing hostilities.

Medical organizations say the hospital director suffers from several chronic health conditions, including heart disease and high blood pressure. Human rights groups argue that his continued detention and reported lack of adequate medical care have contributed to a significant decline in his health.

The case has drawn growing international attention, with UN agencies, medical associations, and human rights organizations calling for transparency regarding his condition and demanding that Israeli authorities ensure his safety and access to necessary healthcare.

As concerns over his well-being intensify, rights advocates continue to press for his immediate release, arguing that the detention of medical personnel and the reported treatment of detainees raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns under international law. (ILKHA)