By Shumaila Aslam
Bureau Chief, Pakistan
Scandinavian News Agency (SNN), Finland
Finnish Rights Group Issues Urgent Appeal
Finnish human rights organization Finn Rights has called for the immediate and unconditional release of 16 Palestinian medical professionals held in Israeli detention.
The group’s statement, issued from Helsinki and Geneva on July 20, 2026, cites reports of torture, isolation, and medical neglect.
Finn Rights based its findings on documentation from the Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy, alleging the doctors are being punished for treating patients during the Gaza war.
The organization says the treatment violates the Fourth Geneva Convention’s protections for medical personnel during conflict.
Corroboration From International Bodies
Finn Rights’ concerns echo statements from other human rights organizations.
Amnesty International has separately reported that a lawyer for Physicians for Human Rights Israel described observing fresh bruises and signs of abuse on Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, following a July 2 visit to the Rakevet detention facility.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has also called for Abu Safiya’s immediate release and demanded independent medical care be provided to him.
Separately, the UN’s human rights office (OHCHR) has urged Israel to release him or formally charge him under a fair trial process.
Legal Basis for Detention
Dr. Abu Safiya has been held since December 2024 following an Israeli military raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital.
He is detained under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, which permits indefinitely renewable detention orders without formal indictment, based on classified evidence.
On June 16, 2026, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal for his release, extending his detention until at least October 2026.
Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to the torture allegations raised by Finn Rights, Amnesty International, or the UN.
Second Case: Dr. Marwan al-Hams
Finn Rights also raised alarm over Dr. Marwan al-Hams, former director of Gaza’s field hospitals, who the group says is being denied medication and family contact as his health declines.
Independent verification of his specific condition was not available at the time of publication.
Concealment of Detainees’ Whereabouts
Finn Rights alleges that Israeli authorities are deliberately concealing the location of several detained doctors, which it characterizes as enforced disappearance.
Separate reporting has indicated Abu Safiya was held at Sde Teiman and Ofer prison at different points, with limited disclosure to his legal representatives.
The Full List of Detained Doctors
According to Finn Rights, the 16 detained physicians are: Dr. Ahmad Shehadeh, Dr. Mahmoud al-Hallak, Dr. Raed Mahdi, Dr. Murad al-Qouqa, Dr. Hamza Abu Subha, Dr. Ahmad Mousa, Dr. Nahed Abu Tu’ayma, Dr. Ghassan Abu Zuhri, Dr. Musab Samaan, Dr. Hassan al-Muqayyad, Dr. Mohammed Obeid, Dr. Akram Abu Odeh, Dr. Marwan al-Hams, Dr. Omar Ammar, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, and Dr. Medhat Abu Tabanga.
Calls for International Pressure
Finn Rights has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, and states party to the Geneva Conventions to press Israel to allow independent medical examinations, permit family visits, and either formally charge the detainees through due process or release them.
The organization describes itself as a Finland-based NGO focused on international human rights protection. Its press office can be reached at Info@finnright.com.
What is Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law
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