Six progressive members of the US Congress have condemned Israel’s treatment of Palestinian healthcare workers and called for the release of detained medical personnel, including Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, former director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital.
Six progressive members of the US Congress have issued a joint statement drawing attention to the killing, detention and alleged mistreatment of Palestinian healthcare workers amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
The statement was signed by Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jesús “Chuy” García, Summer Lee, Pramila Jayapal and Delia Ramirez.
The lawmakers said Israel’s government had systematically dismantled the Palestinian healthcare system over the past three years, alleging that at least 1,700 Palestinian doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers had been killed and dozens of hospitals destroyed.
Hundreds of healthcare workers reportedly detained
The lawmakers also said that hundreds of Palestinian healthcare workers had been detained, including at least 16 doctors, and alleged that many were being held under inhumane conditions.
Particular attention was drawn to the case of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
Israeli forces detained Abu Safia in December 2024, along with other medical personnel and patients, following the evacuation of the hospital. He has been held without a criminal trial or formal charges, according to his lawyers and human rights groups.
Israeli authorities have classified Abu Safia as an “unlawful combatant.” In June 2026, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that his detention could continue.
His lawyers and human rights organisations have alleged that Abu Safia was subjected to mistreatment while in detention and that his health had deteriorated significantly. A United Nations commission of inquiry has also called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Israel’s Prison Service has rejected allegations of mistreatment.
Lawmakers accuse Israel of targeting healthcare
The six members of Congress argued that attacks on healthcare facilities and medical personnel in Gaza cannot simply be viewed as an unavoidable consequence of war.
Their statement described the destruction of healthcare infrastructure and the detention of medical workers as part of what they characterised as a broader Israeli policy of occupation, apartheid and genocide against Palestinians.
The allegations echo concerns previously raised by United Nations experts, international human rights organisations and medical organisations regarding the impact of the war on Gaza’s healthcare system.
Israel says hospitals are used by armed groups
Israeli authorities have maintained that military operations targeting hospitals and other medical facilities are aimed at Palestinian armed groups that Israel alleges use those locations to conduct or coordinate military activities.
Israel has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians and says its military operations are directed against Hamas and other armed groups.
Questions over Israel’s conduct have nevertheless continued to draw international scrutiny.
According to Al Jazeera, Israel acknowledged responsibility for the deaths of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza in March 2025. An investigation by Forensic Architecture and Earshot concluded that Israeli forces fired more than 900 rounds at a convoy of clearly marked ambulances before the bodies and vehicles were buried.
Calls for the release of detained medical workers
The US lawmakers called for the immediate release of Abu Safia and other Palestinian healthcare workers held by Israel.
They also urged the Trump administration to halt new arms transfers to Israel and reconsider US policy regarding weapons supplied to the country.
International calls concerning detained Palestinian medical personnel have continued. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Palestinian healthcare workers detained by Israel.
The issue is expected to remain a major concern for international medical and human rights organisations, particularly as healthcare workers and medical facilities continue to face significant risks in conflict zones.
