ReutersIsrael has confirmed it’s holding Gaza hospital director Dr Hussam Abu Safiya after beforehand telling an area NGO that it was unaware of his case, sparking concern for his well-being.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assertion stated he’s “presently underneath investigation by the Israeli safety forces” in particular person.
The assertion supplied no clarification for the confusion however reiterated that he’s suspected of being a “terrorist” and “holding a rank” in Hamas, the armed Palestinian group at battle with Israel in Gaza.
Dr Abu Safiya was arrested final Friday because the Israeli military compelled sufferers and medical workers to depart the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, claiming the power was a “Hamas terrorist stronghold”.
The IDF advised Doctors for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) on Thursday that it had “no indication of the arrest or detention of the person in query.”
PHRI filed a petition with the Israeli High Court of Justice on Thursday, requesting that Dr. Abu Safiya’s whereabouts be revealed. He stated the courtroom had given the IDF every week to conform.
Meanwhile Amnesty chief Agnès Callamard stated Israeli authorities should “urgently reveal his whereabouts”.
He stated Israel arrested “a whole bunch of Palestinian well being staff from Gaza with out cost or trial” and stated they have been “subjected to torture and different ill-treatment and held in incommunicado detention.”
Israel denies mistreating detainees.
Dr Abu Safiya’s household beforehand advised BBC Arabic that they consider he’s being held on the Sde Teiman army base in southern Israel, the place Israeli forces have introduced many detainees from Gaza for interrogation.
Whistleblowers have already reported this to the BBC and different worldwide media extremely harsh conditions for prisoners There. Israel stated all detainees are being held “fastidiously and appropriately.”
The IDF ordered everybody contained in the Kamal Adwan hospital to depart final Friday morning, giving the hospital about quarter-hour to maneuver sufferers and workers to the courtyard, medical workers advised the BBC.
Beit Lahia, the place the hospital is positioned, is underneath a tightened Israeli blockade imposed since October on elements of northern Gaza. The UN has stated the world is underneath “nearly complete siege” because the Israeli army closely restricts entry to help deliveries in an space the place between 10,000 and 15,000 individuals are estimated to stay.
ReutersOn Saturday, the IDF stated it arrested 240 fighters in Kamal Adwan and stated Dr. Abu Safiya was amongst medical personnel taken for questioning.
Video footage confirmed him strolling in the direction of an Israeli armored car earlier than being taken for interrogation. An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the arrest the identical day, saying the physician had been transferred for questioning.
Dr Abu Safiya had beforehand been arrested by Israeli forces throughout an earlier raid on the hospital in October, however was launched shortly afterwards. During the Israeli operation, Dr. Abu Safiya’s 15-year-old son was killed by a drone strike. Footage from that day confirmed him main funeral prayers for his son within the hospital courtyard.
Israeli assaults on well being services in Gaza have drawn rising condemnation.
The United Nations Human Rights Office stated on Tuesday that Israeli assaults on and round hospitals had intensified. Gaza’s health system ‘on the verge of total collapse’ and raised severe issues about battle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity.
The Israeli mission in Geneva stated Israeli forces function in accordance with worldwide legislation and “won’t ever goal harmless civilians.”
Israel launched a marketing campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s unprecedented assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, by which round 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others taken hostage.
According to the native Health Ministry, greater than 45,580 folks have been killed in Gaza since then.
