Rights9/11/2026

69 U.S. Members of Congress Call for Release of Detained Gaza Hospital Director

Sixty-nine Democratic and independent U.S. members of Congress appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on him to engage with Israel to secure the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The IDF suspects that the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital was involved in terrorist activity, but he and his family reject this allegation.

Key facts

•69 Democratic and independent U.S. members of Congress
•The detainee: Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
•Arrest: December 2024
•Publication: September 11, 2026
•The source did not cite a judicial decision

Who Is Being Held in Israel

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the report, he was arrested in December 2024 and has since been held in detention in Israel.

What the Lawmakers Are Demanding

Sixty-nine U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They called on him to pressure Israel to secure Abu Safiya’s release. The authors of the appeal emphasized states’ obligation to provide detainees with basic medical care and due process.

The Parties’ Positions

The IDF stated that Abu Safiya is suspected of involvement in terrorist activity. The doctor himself and his family deny this. The source does not report that an indictment was filed, that a judicial decision was issued, or that Israeli authorities responded to the members of Congress’ letter.

The Legal Status of the Appeal

The U.S. lawmakers’ letter is a political appeal to the U.S. secretary of state, not a court ruling or legal document binding Israel. The report also did not cite specific statutory provisions under which Abu Safiya was arrested or continues to be held in detention.

What this means for you

The members of Congress’ appeal does not in itself change the arrangements governing the detention of detainees in Israel and does not require the authorities to release Abu Safiya. For people in similar circumstances, the specific grounds for detention, access to medical care, and the opportunity to receive due process are important, but the source provides no details about these proceedings.

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