Dozens of Gaza Medical Workers Are Still Disappeared in Israeli Detention.
The hopes and dreams of a family were crushed when Anis al-Astal, the director of ambulance services in southern Gaza, was supposed to be released from Israeli detention as part of a ceasefire deal. But with dozens of detained Palestinians freed on October 13, a call came from one of his colleagues - al-Astal was nowhere to be seen.
This is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a broader problem. At least 95 Palestinian medical workers, including 80 from Gaza, are still being held without charge in Israeli prisons. Among them is Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north, who was taken after a brutal attack on the hospital in December.
The majority of these detainees have been taken while working to save patients. They were ambulancemen, doctors, and nurses, caught up in Israel's relentless assault on Gaza's hospitals from the north to the south. The United Nations has described the attacks as "targeted destruction" of the healthcare system - a "medicide."
Palestinians like al-Astal have been held under Israel's Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows for prisoners to be held without charge, for an unlimited time, and without access to an attorney for over two months. Amnesty International has said the law is being used to "arbitrarily round up Palestinian civilians from Gaza" with little or no accountability.
For families like Maha Wafi's, who waited anxiously for news of their loved ones' release, only uncertainty remains. Al-Astal was supposed to be released, but instead, he disappeared. His wife and children were left to wonder what happened to him and when they might see him again.
Wafi described the moment she found out her husband was still in detention as "an indescribable feeling." Her sons are young men, and she has only one daughter - being separated from them for so long has been unbearable. The lack of information about al-Astal's whereabouts has left her with a sense of hopelessness.
"He and the medical staff were about to be released," Wafi said. "What happened? What took place? Were they stopped? No one knows."
For many families, the uncertainty is even more difficult to bear. Dr. Ahmed Mhanna, who was also held in Israeli detention, described his experience as a nightmare. He lost 30 kilograms while he was imprisoned and suffered physical abuse.
"I have to continue my job," he said. "I have to forget all this hard period that I was in prison. I have to."
As Gaza's healthcare system continues to crumble under Israel's assault, medical workers like al-Astal remain trapped in detention. The world watches as the situation worsens, and no concrete action is taken.
"I can't taste the feeling of joy while the pillar of the house is not with us," Wafi said. "The father of my children is not with us."
For many Palestinians, this sense of hopelessness is a reality they face every day. The Israeli prison system's treatment of Palestinian medical workers has raised concerns about accountability and human rights.
As long as families like Wafi's continue to wait for news of their loved ones' whereabouts, the situation remains bleak.
The hopes and dreams of a family were crushed when Anis al-Astal, the director of ambulance services in southern Gaza, was supposed to be released from Israeli detention as part of a ceasefire deal. But with dozens of detained Palestinians freed on October 13, a call came from one of his colleagues - al-Astal was nowhere to be seen.
This is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a broader problem. At least 95 Palestinian medical workers, including 80 from Gaza, are still being held without charge in Israeli prisons. Among them is Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north, who was taken after a brutal attack on the hospital in December.
The majority of these detainees have been taken while working to save patients. They were ambulancemen, doctors, and nurses, caught up in Israel's relentless assault on Gaza's hospitals from the north to the south. The United Nations has described the attacks as "targeted destruction" of the healthcare system - a "medicide."
Palestinians like al-Astal have been held under Israel's Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows for prisoners to be held without charge, for an unlimited time, and without access to an attorney for over two months. Amnesty International has said the law is being used to "arbitrarily round up Palestinian civilians from Gaza" with little or no accountability.
For families like Maha Wafi's, who waited anxiously for news of their loved ones' release, only uncertainty remains. Al-Astal was supposed to be released, but instead, he disappeared. His wife and children were left to wonder what happened to him and when they might see him again.
Wafi described the moment she found out her husband was still in detention as "an indescribable feeling." Her sons are young men, and she has only one daughter - being separated from them for so long has been unbearable. The lack of information about al-Astal's whereabouts has left her with a sense of hopelessness.
"He and the medical staff were about to be released," Wafi said. "What happened? What took place? Were they stopped? No one knows."
For many families, the uncertainty is even more difficult to bear. Dr. Ahmed Mhanna, who was also held in Israeli detention, described his experience as a nightmare. He lost 30 kilograms while he was imprisoned and suffered physical abuse.
"I have to continue my job," he said. "I have to forget all this hard period that I was in prison. I have to."
As Gaza's healthcare system continues to crumble under Israel's assault, medical workers like al-Astal remain trapped in detention. The world watches as the situation worsens, and no concrete action is taken.
"I can't taste the feeling of joy while the pillar of the house is not with us," Wafi said. "The father of my children is not with us."
For many Palestinians, this sense of hopelessness is a reality they face every day. The Israeli prison system's treatment of Palestinian medical workers has raised concerns about accountability and human rights.
As long as families like Wafi's continue to wait for news of their loved ones' whereabouts, the situation remains bleak.
... I mean, how many people could've been killed in those attacks? But at the same time, it's not fair for them to be held without charge for so long 
. They were just doing their job and got caught up in the crossfire. The fact that they're still being detained is a clear human rights violation, no question 
.
Without any charges or trial? It's just so... arbitrary 
. And to make matters worse, some of these medical workers have been through hell and back, physically and emotionally 
.
... but it does seem like they're not taking responsibility for their actions, and that's what's really hurting these people 
.
. Like, can't Israel just let them go? They're not even doing anything wrong, they're just trying to help people. And then you got this law that basically lets them hold them indefinitely without any charges or representation... it's just crazy.
It's not just about Anis al-Astal, it's about all these other medics who are still trapped in Israeli detention. They're not even getting any justice or support.
We need to see some real action taken ASAP, or it'll be another crisis that escalates into something worse...
they should be released ASAP! the fact that they were taken while trying to save patients is just horrific 
if anyone knows anything about what happened to these medics, they should be coming forward ASAP! 
these medical workers were just doing their job and now they're facing indefinite detention & torture... what's going on?! 
those families r left in limbo w/ no info on their loved ones' whereabouts. it's like they never existed. gotta do somethin to help these ppl & get them released ASAP 