Gaza hospital director facing ‘serious deterioration’ in Israeli custody: Rights group
An Israeli human rights organisation has warned of a “serious deterioration” in the health of Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been in Israeli custody since December 27.
Physicians for Human Rights said one of its lawyers recently visited Abu Safia at Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and documented the conditions of his detention.
According to the group, Abu Safia has lost nearly 25 kilograms (55.1 pounds), suffers from scabies without receiving proper treatment, and faces a severe decline in his overall health. He has not appeared before a judge since March, has not been interrogated, and remains unaware of the charges against him.
The organisation said the doctor is subjected to violence, ill-treatment and denial of medical checkups despite a history of heart disease and high blood pressure.
His detention conditions reportedly include food shortages, lack of clean clothing, and repeated assaults by prison guards.
The group noted that more than 100 medical workers from Gaza have been detained since Israel’s war on the enclave began in October 2023, most without formal charges, calling the practice “a blatant violation of international law.
UNRWA warns of collapse amid funding gap, threatening vital aid to Palestinians
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini delivered a stark warning to a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that the agency faces complete operational collapse within months due to a severe funding crisis.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting hosted by Jordan, Spain and Brazil, Lazzarini said the shortfall between now and early 2026 exceeds $200m, threatening services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the region.
“In the absence of a significant influx of new funding, the delivery of critical services will be compromised before the end of the year,” he warned.
Lazzarini accused Israel of conducting “a fierce and well-funded disinformation campaign” designed to “dismantle the Agency to end the refugee status of Palestinians.” He said at least 370 UNRWA staff have been killed in Gaza, with most premises destroyed.
Lazzarini also warned that history would judge the international community’s response to Gaza, saying that “with the warnings issued by the International Court of Justice last year, and the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report last week,” the question of why leaders failed to prevent genocide “must now be asked of us”.
Jordan’s Safadi calls for urgent support to UNRWA amid Gaza crisis
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, also present at the meeting, issued his own appeal.
Safadi said, “Nobody can do the job that UNRWA can do in Gaza because it has been there when others were not, because it knows every alley, every street, every home, every school, every clinic, every family that needs support. We need UNRWA.”
He also said that Israel’s violations of the UN Charter were “incomprehensible”, as it continues “to commit massacres against civilians and the world does nothing.”
