Doctor in Gaza Faces Long Detention, Court Hearing Highlights Human Rights Concerns

A well‑known Palestinian medical professional was taken by Israeli forces from a Gaza hospital in late 2024 and has remained in custody for more than eight months. His first public appearance since February came via video link at a Jerusalem Supreme Court session, where he looked noticeably thinner and weaker. Family members reported that the doctor had lost 40 kilograms in prison, suffered broken ribs, and endured other health problems. A local Israeli rights organization claims he was among doctors denied proper nutrition, while the prison service denies such allegations. The court heard an appeal filed by his lawyer, who argued that the detention was unlawful. The judge is expected to rule later that day. According to a human‑rights group, the doctor has been held without formal charges for over 500 days and has rarely appeared publicly. He was seized from the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, where the military accused him of ties to Hamas but offered no concrete proof. Both Gaza’s health ministry and Hamas reject these claims.

After the hearing, the lawyer described the conditions of his client’s confinement: handcuffs, shackles, solitary isolation, and ongoing medical treatment for severe back pain allegedly caused by assault. The doctor also lost his glasses in custody, leading to vision issues, and showed skin problems that the lawyer said were common among Palestinian inmates. Israeli authorities have not yet responded to inquiries about his treatment. During the session, the doctor wore typical prison attire—a white T‑shirt and grey tracksuit pants. He is one of 14 doctors detained in Gaza without charge, part of a larger group of nearly 400 Palestinian healthcare workers captured amid Israel’s military campaign that began after the October 7 attacks. The rights group urges their release, citing inadequate medical care and physical abuse.

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