Hind Rajab Organization seeks arrest of Israeli FM for Gaza war crimes
4 Min Read
The Hind Rajab Human Rights Organization has requested the arrest of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in London for his role in the genocide in Gaza.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar looks on during a press conference after a meeting with the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas at a hotel in occupied al-Quds, March 24, 2025 (AP)
The Hind Rajab Human Rights Organization announced on Wednesday that it had officially submitted a request to British authorities for the arrest of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, currently in London, for committing war crimes against civilians in Gaza.
In its statement, the organization said the legal request was submitted in coordination with the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and supported by several doctors. It was addressed to both the UK Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, calling for an arrest warrant against Sa’ar.
The organization confirmed that legal teams are working intensively to secure the urgent warrant for Sa’ar, who is a member of "Israel’s" security and political cabinet and considered responsible for decisions made throughout the genocide in Gaza.
The charges focus particularly on the siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital, which resulted in the arrest and torture of hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya.
Hussam Abu Safiya, a 52-year-old pediatrician, gained attention last year for documenting the desperate conditions in his besieged Beit Lahia hospital during "Israel's" large-scale military operation, before Israeli forces stormed the facility on December 27, detaining Abu Safiya along with dozens of medical staff.
On March 19, after months of detention, Abu Safiya's lawyer, Gheed Qassem, finally gained access to visit the detained doctor in Ofer prison, located in the occupied West Bank.
Later on April 16, the lawyer raised the alarm and reiterated that Abu Safiya is being held in inhumane conditions and faces physical and psychological intimidation.
"He is suffering greatly, he is exhausted from the torture, the pressure, and the humiliation he has endured to force him to confess to acts he did not commit," Qassem told AFP.
Safiya's health deteriorating
According to Qassem, Israeli authorities have classified the medic as an "illegal combatant" indefinitely, while the military has declared his case confidential, preventing Abu Safiya's defense team from accessing any of the case files.
The lawyer condemned the severe visitation restrictions that are being enforced, including prohibitions on sharing any information about current events, calendar dates, or even the physical location where detainees are being held. Qassem reported that her heavily monitored visit with Abu Safiya was abruptly cut short after just 17 minutes.
Qassem expressed grave concern about Abu Safiya's deteriorating health, detailing how he suffers from arterial tension, cardiac arrhythmia, and vision problems, having lost 20 kilos in just two months while enduring fractured ribs during interrogations without receiving adequate medical treatment.
Despite maintaining his composure, the doctor continued to question what alleged crime could justify his harsh treatment under what he describes as inhumane conditions, Qassem told AFP.
The lawyer highlighted that Abu Safiya's jailers persistently pressured him to confess to operating on Hamas members or Israeli hostages during his time in Gaza, accusations he firmly denies despite the severe questioning.
Qassem stressed that the doctor maintains he was solely acting as a pediatrician, performing his medical duties under moral and professional obligations to care for patients and the wounded.
She also revealed that numerous detainees have been held without formal charges or trials, with their lawyers frequently left unaware of their clients’ whereabouts during the initial months of the conflict.
Read more: Kamal Adwan Hospital chief subjected to severe torture by 'Israel'
