Gaza’s Doctors Still Detained: PRC Writes to UK’s Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer

Gaza’s Doctors Still Detained: PRC Writes to UK’s Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) has submitted a formal letter to Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer MP, calling for decisive action to address the dire situation in Gaza, particularly the deteriorating conditions for healthcare professionals and medical facilities. 

This appeal comes as part of PRC's ongoing campaign titled "Hands-off-Doctors", which seeks to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of medical personnel and facilities in Gaza.  

In the letter, PRC highlighted the case of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian physician detained during a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza in December 2024. Human rights reports indicate that Dr. Abu Safiya was severely beaten and subjected to degrading treatment by Israeli forces during the raid. He remains in detention along with dozens of other doctors and medics who were forcibly taken from their workplaces in Gaza hospitals to the Sde Timan Israeli detention centre and other locations. Alarmingly, some detainees have died under torture, such as Dr. Adnan Al-Borsh, who lost his life at Ofer Prison. 

Despite the current ceasefire, Israel’s aggression over the past 15 months have devastated Gaza’s medical infrastructure. PRC has called on Minister Falconer to urgently address the following: 

- Investigate the detention and mistreatment of Dr. Abu Safiya and other healthcare professionals and call for their immediate release. 

- Hold Israel accountable for systematic attacks on Gaza’s healthcare sector. 

- Urge the UK government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s crippled medical sector. 

- End all medical collaboration with Israel due to its documented human rights violations against healthcare workers and hospitals. 

PRC urges the British government to take decisive action and adopt a firm stance against Israel’s violations. It is crucial to uphold international law, safeguard medical neutrality, and ensure accountability for these ongoing atrocities. 

Short Link : https://prc.org.uk/en/post/4865