Six US Progressives Demand Release of Gaza Doctor Held Without Charge Since 2024

A group of six progressive members of the United States Congress has issued a public statement demanding that Israel release a prominent Gaza physician who has been held in Israeli detention for nearly two years without charge or trial, while also condemning what they describe as a systematic campaign against Palestinian healthcare workers.

The statement, released on Tuesday, was signed by Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Summer Lee, Pramila Jayapal and Delia Ramirez. It centers on Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a physician seized by Israeli forces in December 2024 and still imprisoned, and uses his case to highlight broader allegations of abuse against medical personnel in Gaza.

According to the lawmakers, Israel has over the past three years "systematically destroyed the health system in Palestine," killing at least 1,700 Palestinian doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers and destroying dozens of hospitals. The statement further alleges that hundreds of Palestinian medical workers have been arrested and arbitrarily detained, including at least 16 physicians who remain held in what the representatives call inhumane conditions.

Abu Safia's case has become a focal point for international advocacy campaigns. Israeli soldiers detained him in December 2024 after he and other medical staff reportedly refused to evacuate Kamal Adwan Hospital, the facility where they were working in northern Gaza. No charges have been filed against him, and he has never been brought to trial, according to the statement.

Lawyers representing Abu Safia say he has been subjected to torture, sleep deprivation and beatings during his detention, allegations that have been echoed by rights groups and medical organizations tracking his case. His prolonged detention without legal proceedings has drawn repeated appeals from international bodies and fellow physicians.

The congressional statement frames the treatment of Abu Safia and other medical workers as part of a broader Israeli policy aimed at depriving Palestinians of essential services, including food, water and medical treatment. The lawmakers argue that these actions amount to an "intentional policy designed to further occupation, apartheid, and genocide against the Palestinian people."

That characterization aligns with assessments from a growing number of human rights organizations, academics and United Nations officials who have denounced Israeli military operations in Gaza. The destruction of nearly all of the enclave's hospitals and medical centers has been cited by these groups as evidence of a deliberate effort to dismantle civilian infrastructure.

Israel has consistently maintained that it targets hospitals and medical facilities because Palestinian armed groups allegedly use them to plan and carry out operations. Israeli officials have argued that such dual-use of civilian sites justifies military action, though they have frequently faced challenges in substantiating these claims.

One notable example came in March 2025, when Israel acknowledged that its soldiers had killed 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza. The military initially said the ambulance convoy had approached soldiers "suspiciously" and claimed without evidence that some of the deceased were linked to Hamas. The admission followed mounting pressure and contradicting evidence.

A subsequent report by Forensic Architecture and Earshot found that Israeli forces fired more than 900 bullets at a clearly marked ambulance convoy, killing some of the medics "execution-style" before burying their bodies and vehicles. The findings underscored concerns about the targeting of medical personnel and the obstruction of emergency response efforts.

The congressional intervention reflects growing scrutiny within the United States of Israel's conduct during the war, particularly among progressive lawmakers who have repeatedly called for accountability and for conditions on US military assistance. The six signatories represent some of the most vocal critics of Israeli policy in Congress.

While the statement carries no legal force, it adds political pressure on the Biden administration and international institutions to address the detention of medical workers and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It also signals that the issue of Palestinian healthcare workers remains a priority for a segment of the US legislature.

For Abu Safia, the statement offers renewed international visibility but no immediate path to freedom. His case, like those of other detained physicians, remains entangled in a legal and political landscape where charges have not been filed and judicial review has been limited or delayed.

The lawmakers' appeal is unlikely to produce an immediate change in Israeli policy, but it contributes to a cumulative record of international criticism that rights groups hope will eventually influence diplomatic and legal outcomes. The fate of Abu Safia and his colleagues now rests with Israeli authorities, whose detention practices continue to draw global condemnation.