More than 30 doctors, healthcare workers and activists gathered today near St Thomas’ Hospital in central London to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a prominent Palestinian paediatrician and hospital director, along with at least 104 other detained Palestinian medical workers.

Medics wearing scrubs and activists holding placards reading “Free Gaza Medics”, “Free Dr Hussam Abu Safiya”, “Stop Arming Israel” the protesters stood against the backdrop of Parliament. 

The protest - organised by Amnesty International UK and Healthcare Workers Watch - highlighted growing concern over Israel’s arbitrary detention of Palestinian health workers, many of whom have been held without charge or trial for months under the widely condemned Unlawful Combatants Law.

Images from the protest are available HERE. (credit: Marie-Anne Ventoura / Amnesty International UK)

Dr. Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza, was arrested by Israeli forces on 27 December 2024, following a military raid on the hospital. Despite the destruction of Gaza’s health system and the death of his own son in an Israeli airstrike, Dr. Abu Safiya had remained on duty, treating patients and leading medical care efforts under siege.

Since his arrest, reports have emerged of physical abuse, denial of medical care, and prolonged lack of legal access. His detention was recently extended for another six months without charge - prompting renewed outcry from human rights groups.

Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s Crisis Response Manager, said:

"Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was saving lives, not taking them. His continued detention - without charge, without trial, and in conditions amounting to abuse - is a grave injustice and a blatant violation of international law.

“Israel is making a mockery of the so-called peace deal it signed up to by continuing to illegally hold Palestinian detainees - including medics - for seemingly no reason other than political leverage.

“The UK cannot look the other way - it must suspend arms transfers to Israel and press for accountability.”

The protest also called on the UK government to immediately suspend arms exports to Israel, amid overwhelming evidence of war crimes and genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza as well as an ongoing and deepening system of apartheid and illegal occupation.

Among those attending were leading UK medical professionals including Dr. Bex Inglis who spoke of the urgent need to protect healthcare workers and uphold international humanitarian law. Amnesty activists were also present, along with acclaimed actor and long-time supporter Juliet Stevenson.