SAFA — Israel's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from the Gaza Strip who remain imprisoned without charges or trial, some for more than two years, despite a critical shortage of medical specialists in Gaza's devastated healthcare system.

Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) announced the decision Wednesday, warning that the continued detention of hospital directors and specialists deprives Palestinian patients of essential medical care at a time when hospitals are struggling to function.

The organization said the doctors remain imprisoned under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows detention without ordinary criminal proceedings.

PHRI argued that the severe shortage of healthcare workers in Gaza, combined with the ceasefire agreement, provided compelling humanitarian grounds for releasing the doctors.

However, the Israeli Supreme Court declined to intervene in the military's decision to maintain their detention.

Israeli Courts Reject Appeals Over Detained Doctors' Rights

PHRI said the rulings highlighted the failure of Israel's judicial system to protect the fundamental rights of Palestinian medical workers.

Naji Abbas, a representative of the organization, criticized the continued imprisonment of doctors whose expertise is urgently needed in Gaza.

He stressed that the 14 detainees include hospital directors and specialists in critical medical fields who remain behind bars without formal charges or trial.

Abbas warned that their detention not only violates their rights but also deprives patients in Gaza of medical services that are increasingly difficult to obtain.

He also emphasized that prisoners must not be denied access to medical care because of their public profile or allegations made against them.

The organization separately criticized a court decision denying an independent medical examination to Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who has been detained by Israel since December 2024.

PHRI raised concerns about his deteriorating health and reports of injuries sustained in detention.

Abbas questioned how Israeli authorities could continue holding doctors without trial, deny Gaza's patients their services, and restrict the detainees' access to essential medical care.

Detention of Doctors Deepens Gaza's Healthcare Crisis

The continued imprisonment of Palestinian doctors comes amid extensive damage to Gaza's healthcare system following more than three years of Israeli military operations.

Hospitals have suffered widespread destruction, while the killing, detention, and displacement of medical personnel have severely reduced the availability of specialized treatment.

Figures reported in July indicated that approximately 1,700 healthcare workers had been killed during the war and at least 330 medical personnel had been arrested.

Three Palestinian doctors—Adnan Al-Bursh, Iyad Al-Rantisi, and Ziad Al-Dalu—also died in Israeli detention.

Palestinian rights organizations have raised allegations of torture, abuse, and medical neglect in connection with the deaths of detained healthcare workers.

The loss of experienced specialists has left Gaza's hospitals struggling to provide essential services, including complex surgery and treatment for serious illnesses.

Shortage of Specialists Leaves Patients Without Treatment

Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, warned in comments to Ultra Palestine in late July that Gaza was facing severe shortages in rare and essential medical specialties.

He attributed the shortages to the killing, detention, and departure of experienced physicians during the war.

Cancer treatment has been particularly affected by the departure of specialist consultants, the killing of two histopathology specialists, and the destruction of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital.

According to Abu Salmiya, specialized cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and urology services have also been suspended following the departure of medical teams.

He reported that Israeli authorities had detained Gaza's only joint replacement specialist and its only spinal fixation specialist, while an orthopedic surgeon and the territory's only kidney transplant consultant had been killed.

The loss of these specialists has left hospitals unable to perform many complex procedures, including reconstructive orthopedic surgery, specialized burn treatment, and plastic surgery.

Thousands of patients consequently face prolonged delays or must seek treatment outside Gaza, where medical evacuations remain severely restricted.

Gaza Hospitals Struggle Amid Widespread Destruction

The crisis extends beyond the loss of healthcare workers.

The United Nations has documented damage to all 36 hospitals in Gaza since the beginning of the war, with only approximately half operating partially.

Another 176 healthcare facilities have also reportedly sustained damage.

The destruction of hospitals, shortages of medical equipment and medicines, and the absence of specialized personnel have placed immense pressure on the remaining healthcare workforce.

Against this backdrop, PHRI warned that Israel's refusal to release the 14 detained doctors is worsening an already critical shortage of medical expertise.

The organization maintains that the doctors should be released and allowed to return to their families and patients, while their rights to medical care and due process must be respected.

Source : Safa News