Hundreds of Palestinian health workers remain illegally detained by Israel: NGOs
Twenty months after the current violence began in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian health care workers remained illegally detained or disappeared in Israel’s prison system, medical staff and aid groups said. It has been more harmful to the healthcare crisis.
More than two dozen civil society organizations, including medical organizations whose doctors were taken away by Israeli forces, signed a statement on Monday calling for immediate release of health workers and ending seemingly arbitrary detention and Gaza healthcare system wider attack.
“Not protected, but was forcibly evacuated from hospital wards and patient bedsides and detained for a long time in Israeli prisons and military camps.” The joint statement said. “The situation of many people who are still in custody remains unknown. Many released people have reported serious abuse, while some have died in detention.”
Israeli troops were killed More than 1,500 Palestinian health care workers Gaza’s Ministry of Health said there have been 460 aid workers since October 2023. During the same period, the military also detained at least 300 health workers in Gaza and 239 health workers in the West Bank detained them during the same period. According to the World Health Organization. As of February, aid organizations believe at least 185 Palestinian health care workers are still in illegal detention.
Protesters called on Israel to end the attack on Gaza’s health infrastructure and personnel immediately and unconditionally, and to move free and secure humanitarian aid before the European Parliament on 19 June 2025 in Brussels. Thierry Monasse by Getty Images
“These healthcare workers are not combatants, not criminals, they are not just statistics. They have families, they play a lifesaving role in the community,” Joseph Belliveau, executive director of Chicago-based aid group Medglobal, said in a statement Monday.
“There is no reason or explanation for the detention and harm of these dedicated health workers, which is inhuman and illegal,” he continued. “My colleagues are not responsible for detention or due process every day, sending a complex message that civilian medical staff is the legitimate goal.”
A spokesman for Israeli Prison Service did not respond to a request for comment from Hofton Post, although Israeli officials frequently Defend the kidnapping of Palestinian medical staff go through Accused them, no evidence cited,,,,, Work with Hamas.
These include Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, chief physician at Medglobal, who made headlines in December Israeli soldiers were forcibly taken away from Kamal Adwan Hospital In the north. Abu Safiya stayed in Ofer Prison on the West Bank, where he Allegedly facing serious abuse and torture In the hands of Israeli security forces. According to Gaza human rights group Al Mezan, he is still not charged with crime.
“The Israeli government has a cruel record of abuse and torture of its civilian detainees. The horrors that occur in Israeli detention centers are well-known and documented,” The U.S. Council on Islamic Relations said on Monday. “Our government and countries around the world must force the Israeli government to release Dr. Abu Safia immediately and Israel unjustly releases all other countries.”
A protester held a sign depicting Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya while protesting Israeli aid workers killing Gaza in Gaza outside the headquarters of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on April 5, 2025. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
Last year, Israeli human rights groups B’tSelem releases detailed reportIt was discovered that Israeli prisons have essentially become a network of torture camps, and current and former Palestinian detainees, including health workers, have proved extreme abuse, deep humiliation and inhumane hygiene behind closed doors.
Mei Zan said Israel’s actions violated The 1984 Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degraded treatment or punishment, and the UN Human Rights Commission In October, the attack on Gaza’s health care system constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many in the international community, including some from the United Nations, concluded that Israel is carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people.
“With the current infrastructure damage at all levels, medical practices are under attack from Israel,” Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations, enjoys the right to health, Said Saturday. “The attacks, harassment and killings by hundreds of health care workers, the destruction of sanitary facilities and humanitarian organizations continue to make this genocide catapult into a genocide that has not been fully quantified.”
