Waiting for Hassan: The Plight of Gaza Doctors Held in Israeli Detention
Learn about the plight of Dr. Hassan Khalil Almukayed and other Gaza doctors held in Israeli detention without charge, as their families await their return.
In the shadow of ongoing conflict, Dr. Hassan Khalil Almukayed, a devoted vascular surgeon from Gaza, remains in Israeli custody without charge. Taken by Israeli forces from Kamal Adwan Hospital in October 2024, he is among at least 15 Palestinian medical professionals currently held indefinitely under Israel's controversial 'Unlawful Combatants Law'.
A Vow to Stay
Dr. Almukayed was a fixture at Kamal Adwan Hospital, steadfastly refusing to abandon his patients and the newborn infants in his care even as Israeli military operations intensified in northern Gaza. His wife, Nadia, recounts their final days together, marked by a commitment to the medical oath despite the collapsing security situation. When the hospital was eventually overrun, the military assured medical staff they would be spared, only to detain them shortly thereafter.
The Reality of Indefinite Detention
Nearly 21 months have passed since Dr. Almukayed’s abduction. Initially held at the infamous Sde Teiman detention facility, he was later transferred to Ktziot Prison. His family and legal representatives from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) paint a harrowing picture of his time in captivity. Reports of severe neglect, lack of medical care for his chronic conditions, starvation, and physical abuse have surfaced through limited legal visits. Despite international outcry, including calls from the United Nations to release colleagues like Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the cycle of detention remains unbroken.
A Family in Limbo
For his wife, Nadia, and their three children, life has been reduced to survival in a tent in al-Mawasi. They endure without their breadwinner, haunted by the news of his father’s death—a tragedy caused by the grief of losing his sons to detention and the harsh conditions of the conflict. Dr. Almukayed remains unaware that his father has passed away, fearing his family will jeopardize his fragile psychological state.
A Legacy of Service
Known to the Jabalia refugee camp as 'the doctor' who offered free medical care at his home clinic, Dr. Almukayed’s absence is felt deeply by the community. As advocates continue to push for legal recourse, the case of Dr. Almukayed serves as a grim reflection of the broader targeting of healthcare infrastructure and the systemic detention of medical staff during the war in Gaza.
