Targeting Medics: The Deliberate Destruction of Gaza’s Healthcare System

The news from Gaza often reports on suffering and hardship. However, one story has reached a critical point in Israeli prisons: Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a prominent pediatrician who once ran Kamal Adwan Hospital, may soon die due to the harsh conditions he is facing. His case is not an isolated incident; it’s part of a larger pattern of deliberate targeting of medical professionals and infrastructure by Israel.

The Israeli military’s actions have been condemned by international organizations, including Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-I), which has documented the abuse and torture of medics in Israeli custody. The detention of doctors like Abu Safiya without charge or evidence is a double blow to the civilian population: it deprives them not only of essential medical care but also erodes the fabric of their society.

The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system is not merely an unfortunate side effect of conflict; it’s a deliberate strategy. In August, UN experts warned that deliberately attacking and starving healthcare workers, paramedics, and hospitals was part of a sinister plan to wipe out medical care in Gaza. This assessment is corroborated by the experiences of Dr. Abu Safiya and others who have been held in Israeli prisons.

Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Nasser Odeh, described his client’s condition as “alarming” after visiting him in Nitzan Prison on July 2nd. The doctor struggled to breathe, sit upright, and even seemed on the verge of losing consciousness due to fresh injuries sustained during his detention. Six Palestinian healthcare workers have died in Israeli custody since 2023, including renowned surgeon Dr. Adnan al-Bursh.

The Israeli authorities’ claims that these medics are being held for national security reasons or cooperating with Hamas militants are dubious at best. The lack of evidence and the fact that many have been held without charge suggest a more sinister intent. As PHR-I’s Naji Abbas pointed out, “The detention of doctors from Gaza cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system.”

This is not just about individual physicians; it’s about the deliberate dismantling of a health system that has already been decimated by years of conflict and siege. As long as medics like Abu Safiya remain imprisoned, disappeared, or dead, the possibility of rebuilding a functional healthcare system in Gaza remains remote.

The targeting of medics is not just a war crime; it’s also a moral and humanitarian catastrophe. The international community must intervene to prevent further abuse and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. This requires more than just words; it demands concrete actions from governments, aid organizations, and human rights groups.

As we watch this unfolding tragedy, we should remember the words of PHR-I: “A health system cannot be rebuilt while the people who sustained it remain imprisoned, disappeared, or dead.” The fate of Dr. Abu Safiya and countless others like him hangs precariously in the balance. Will the world act to prevent further suffering, or will we continue to witness the deliberate destruction of a healthcare system essential for human dignity?