Tehran – In the ongoing brutal and merciless war in Gaza, health workers are experiencing a multi-level, unprecedented threat that goes beyond the obvious threat of being in a war zone.
The tragic experience of Dr Husam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, in Israeli airstrikes, and the murder of Dr. Marwan Al Sultan and his family, demonstrates not only human costs, but also systematic violations of international humanitarian law and the complete dismantling of parents historically provided for healthcare workers in conflict.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s nightmare shows the extreme dangers faced by medical staff in Gaza.
Abu Safiya was arrested in December 2024 in an Israeli attack at Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last surgical hospital in northern Gaza. He was literally taken to the muzzle. Abu Safiya has experienced torture, real estate detention and interrogation at several Israeli detention sites: Sde Teiman, Ofer Prison, and more.
He suffered from a serious medical condition (heart enlargement, hypertension), but like many prisoners, Abu Safiya was treated poorly and abused. The detention of Abu Safiya under the controversial “illegal combatants” law of Israel, defined by imperfect rights and fair court standards, shows how the law works to silence and erase medical professionals.
This personal suffering is exacerbated by the loss of family. Abu Safiya’s son had been killed in early Israeli airstrikes in hospitals, but he had yet to realize that his mother had died when he was imprisoned and tortured. But even in all this tragedy and suffering, he remained a loyal caregiver, treating civilians injured during daily artillery and air bombings.
His resilience represents the immeasurable courage of Gaza medical staff working under siege, under threat, without proper supplies.
In a similar example to the tragedy of Abu Safiya’s family, the hospital’s manager, Dr. Mawan Al Sultan, was brutally murdered along with his wife and five family members on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) in an Israeli airstrike at a home around Alter Hawa.
The assault not only killed anyone who committed to healing, but also completely devastated the whole family and showed the indiscriminate and brutal violence imposed on health workers in Gaza.
Systematic Targeting and Legal Disclaimer
These stories are not isolated acts, but rather constitute a broader, systematic targeting of healthcare workers and health facilities in Gaza. The bombing of Kamal Adwan Hospital and the detention of Dr. Abu Safiya along with other medical staff have wiped out the last big hospital in northern Gaza, taking away thousands of much-needed medical services.
Ignoring international humanitarian law protecting healthcare workers and facilities during conflict is a serious issue of concern from a legal compliance standpoint.
Calling Dr. Abu Safiya and others “illegal combatants” portrays minimal guarantees such as family contact that destabilizes a rollback of highly legal protections extended to healthcare workers.
Such labels violate the human rights and norms of international law that recognizes healthcare professionals as neutral actors, and help them to arbitrarily detain, torture and forcibly disappear.
Symbolicity and global meaning
The award of the Niza Banat Human Rights Defender Award to Dr. Abu Safiya is a powerful symbol of the international recognition of the courage and sacrifice of Gaza medical staff. It highlights the important role these individuals play in protecting human dignity in conflict, and calls for global attention to their light-heartedness.
Such recognition can promote international advocacy, increase pressure on Israeli authorities, respect humanitarian norms, and mobilize support for detained and at-risk healthcare workers.
However, the stories of Abu Safiya and Al-Sultan highlight the need for urgent action at the international level. Beyond iconic prizes there is a critical need for international law enforcement, accountability for violations, and protection mechanisms for healthcare providers in conflict zones.
Without these, the cycle of violence and immunity will continue to erode the medical community of Gaza and the foundations of civilians that depend on them.