A prominent Gaza medical professional faces serious allegations amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to the New York Post, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and a New York Times contributor, was arrested by Israeli forces along with over 240 others under suspicion of being Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.
The arrest occurred during an Israeli military raid on Saturday at the last major operating hospital in northern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the facility was being used as a shelter by terrorists attempting to escape Israeli bombardments, describing it as "Hamas's last bastion in Jabalia."
Prior to the raid, Israeli forces coordinated the evacuation of 350 patients, caregivers, and staff members from the facility. The military operation resulted in the discovery of few weapons, though the IDF reported that a rocket was fired from the building during the confrontation.
The IDF confirmed that 19 terrorists were killed in the skirmish, while the Hamas-run health ministry reported approximately 50 casualties, including medical staff.
Among the 240 people arrested, Israeli forces claim at least 15 were terrorists who participated in the October 7 attack that resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths.
Hospital staff members who spoke to CNN described disturbing details of the raid. According to their accounts, IDF soldiers required everyone to undergo strip searches and allegedly used force against those who refused to comply.
MedGlobal, a humanitarian NGO providing healthcare in disaster areas where Dr. Abu Safiya works, expressed strong opposition to his arrest. The organization stated:
Dr. Abu Safiya has dedicated his life to protecting the health and lives of children in Gaza, providing care under conditions no medical professional should have to endure. His arrest is not only unjust — it is a violation of international humanitarian law, which upholds the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.
Hamas has requested United Nations intervention to investigate the arrests and hospital shutdown. The militant group demanded international observers be sent to verify claims about the facility's military use.
The situation has created additional strain on Gaza's healthcare system, as evacuated patients were transferred to other facilities that health officials say lack adequate resources to meet their medical needs.
The arrest of Dr. Abu Safiya marks a significant escalation in Israel's campaign against suspected Hamas operatives within Gaza's medical facilities. His current whereabouts remain unknown following Saturday's arrest, raising concerns among humanitarian organizations about the safety of medical personnel in conflict zones.
The IDF maintains that all detentions and searches were conducted in accordance with international law. The raid effectively shut down the last major hospital operating in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces continue their operations against Hamas strongholds.
These developments occur against the backdrop of Dr. Abu Safiya's recent New York Times publication, where he detailed his experiences as one of the last doctors working at Kamal Adwan Hospital and made urgent appeals for assistance. The closure of this vital medical facility has significant implications for healthcare access in northern Gaza, where resources were already severely limited by the ongoing conflict.
