As families celebrated the return of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, advocates continued to call for the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a medical professional captured nearly a year ago and reportedly held in a detention center known for alleged torture.
According to reports from Israeli media, Dr. Abu Safiya was included on a list of Palestinian prisoners slated for release, but only if the number of those released is not completed. The government has reportedly approved a reserve list of five prisoners from Gaza who would be released if conditions change. If approved, these individuals would replace five other Palestinian hostages previously scheduled for release, as noted by Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha.
Dr. Abu Safiya was taken into custody by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in December 2024 during an operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, where he served as medical director. The IDF claimed the hospital was a Hamas command center without presenting evidence. At the time of the attack, it was the last major functioning health facility in northern Gaza.
As the prisoner-hostage exchange neared completion over the weekend, healthcare professionals and advocates urged for Dr. Abu Safiya’s inclusion in the deal. Dr. Yipeng Ge, a family doctor and public health practitioner, called for his immediate and unconditional release, stating that the physician was detained for fulfilling his duty to protect patients. He also emphasized the need for the protection of hospitals, patients, and health workers in Gaza.
Abu Safiya is among more than 9,600 Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons, according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization. The prisoners released on Monday included 1,700 Palestinians detained following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. At least 154 of those released were forced into exile and deported to third countries.
On Saturday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations urged the Trump administration to demand the release of Dr. Abu Safiya and other kidnapped medical professionals. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, highlighted the international community’s acceptance of the ongoing detention of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom have been held without charge or were minors at the time of arrest. She stated that this situation reflects the challenges ahead for achieving peace, emphasizing that “there cannot be peace without justice, human rights, and dignity of all.”
The prisoner-hostage exchange is part of the first phase of a 20-point peace plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, with subsequent phases still under negotiation.
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