Conflicting information has emerged regarding whether Israel will include the prominent Gaza physician in the prisoner release under the ceasefire agreement.
Published On 13 Oct 2025
As part of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, numerous captives from both sides have been reunited with their families. However, the fate of several high-profile Palestinian detainees remains unresolved.
One such figure is Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a leading Gaza hospital director and pediatrician, who was detained by Israeli forces in December 2024. Despite widespread advocacy for his freedom and allegations from his legal representatives of mistreatment during incarceration, he remains behind bars.
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Supporters of Palestinian rights regard Abu Safia as a symbol of the steadfastness of Gaza’s medical community, which has endured systematic assaults amid the prolonged conflict.
The terms of the ceasefire include the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas as well as Palestinians detained en masse by Israel, many without formal charges or trials. Yet, it remains uncertain if Abu Safia will be among those freed.
As of Monday evening, no confirmation has been made regarding his release.
Over the weekend, CNN cited a Hamas source stating that Israel would not free Abu Safia. Contrarily, the Israeli publication Haaretz reported on Monday that his name was added to a list of five additional Palestinian detainees slated for release.
Amnesty International has highlighted that Dr. Abu Safia has been held under an Israeli security statute without formal charges since his arrest at Kamal Adwan Hospital, where he continued his pediatric work even after losing his son in an Israeli airstrike.
“It was not until 11 February 2025 that Israeli authorities permitted Dr. Abu Safia to consult with legal counsel,” Amnesty stated in a petition demanding his liberation. “During a lawyer’s visit to Ofer military prison in early July 2025, reports emerged that Dr. Hussam and other prisoners endured physical assaults.”
The organization also noted a significant decline in his physical health during detention.
Numerous Palestinian detainees and advocacy groups have documented instances of torture, sexual abuse, and harsh conditions in Israeli custody throughout the two-year Gaza conflict. Many recently released prisoners exhibit clear signs of maltreatment and severe weight loss.
“Currently, Hussam Abu Safia is subjected to intense torture,” a recently freed Palestinian detainee told Al Jazeera upon arriving in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Following the finalization of the ceasefire, demands for Abu Safia’s release have intensified.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure Israel complies fully with the ceasefire terms.
“We urge the President to insist on the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia along with all other detained medical personnel,” CAIR stated.
UN human rights expert Francesca Albanese criticized the ceasefire framework on Friday, suggesting that the absence of pressure to free civilian detainees reveals fundamental flaws in the agreement proposed by Trump.
“True peace cannot exist without justice, respect for human rights, and dignity for everyone. Palestinian lives are equally important,” Albanese wrote on X.
