The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention renewed calls on Wednesday for Israel to release Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital, describing his continued detention as arbitrary and unlawful under international law.

Abu Safiya, a paediatrician, was detained by Israeli forces in December 2024 during a raid on the northern Gaza hospital he ran. His family and lawyers say he has been held without charge and denied adequate access to legal counsel. Israeli authorities have said detainees from Gaza are questioned in connection with security matters.

The Working Group, part of the UN Human Rights Council's special procedures, said his imprisonment lacked a legal basis and violated due process guarantees. The panel called on Israel to release him immediately and to grant him an enforceable right to compensation. It also urged an independent investigation into his treatment in custody.

Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Physicians for Human Rights Israel, have repeatedly demanded Abu Safiya's release and raised concerns about the conditions of Palestinian medical staff held under Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law. Israel's Prison Service has previously rejected allegations of mistreatment.

The case has become a focal point for medical and humanitarian groups documenting the impact of the conflict on Gaza's health system. UN human rights officials in Geneva said they would continue to press Israeli authorities for information on Abu Safiya's status and location.