Palestinian doctor Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Published at: 07/10/2025 05:41 PM

A Dutch medical group has nominated Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician and director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, now kidnapped in an Israeli prison, for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025, in recognition of his humanitarian work during the siege of the Zionist entity.

The nomination was presented by the organization Doctors for Gaza and announced by The Rights Forum, a human rights collective from the Netherlands, the Telesur website reported.

Both institutions highlighted the “extraordinary courage and humanity” of the doctor, who continued to treat injured children and civilians despite constant Israeli bombing of the hospital.

During the attacks, his 15-year-old son, Ibrahim, was killed by an Israeli drone in an attempt to intimidate him into abandoning his work.

Even so, the doctor refused to evacuate the health center. Days later, he was abducted by Israeli soldiers, used as a human shield and later transferred without trial to an Israeli prison, where he remains in detention.

After his arbitrary arrest, he was beaten with batons by Israeli soldiers, and forced to undress and put on a prisoner's uniform. In Ofer prison, he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment. He was even denied access to medication to treat health problems.

According to human rights organizations, more than 1,670 Palestinian health workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and at least 362 doctors, nurses and paramedics remain in detention.

In an open letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Doctors for Gaza described Abu Safiya as “a symbol of Palestinian medical resistance and of compassion that survives even under fire.” The international petition in support of his candidacy has collected more than 34,000 signatures in less than a week.

Dr. Abu Safiya, a graduate of the Islamic University of Gaza, headed the main pediatric department in the north of the enclave. During the years of blockade, he was recognized for his vaccination campaigns in rural areas and for having coordinated medical missions with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).