Dr. Abu Safiya enduring severe abuse in Israeli prison: Lawyer

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
14 Jul 2025 15:39
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Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya suffers severe abuse, starvation, and medical neglect in Israeli custody, according to a report by his lawyer, Ghaida Qasem.

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Kamal Adwan Hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya in an undated photo, Gaza Strip. (Social media)

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, is being held under extremely alarming conditions after being detained and taken to an Israeli prison in December following a brutal military campaign on the key Gaza hospital.

His lawyer, Ghaida Qasem, detailed Abu Safiya's state on Monday, reporting that he had lost at least 40 kilograms, dropping from about 100 to 60kg since he was abducted and imprisoned. According to Qasem, he also endured a brutal 30-minute beating that targeted his chest, face, head, and neck.

Despite suffering from irregular heartbeats, Israeli authorities have denied him access to essential medication, treatment, and a specialist doctor. According to the statement, he remains dressed in winter clothing under extreme conditions of starvation, torture, and complete isolation.

It is worth noting that Dr. Abu Safiya is held in an underground cell with no exposure to sunlight, further exacerbating his deteriorating health.

One of many

This case is not an isolated incident but reflects a broader pattern of inhumane treatment faced by Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian prisoner support organizations reported on Tuesday that the number of Palestinians held in Israeli occupation prisons has risen to approximately 10,800 as of early July, marking the highest figure since the Second Intifada in 2000. This total does not include detainees held in occupation military camps, whose status remains largely unaccounted for.

In a joint statement, the organizations noted that the number of administrative detainees had climbed to 3,629, the highest proportion compared to sentenced prisoners and those labeled as "unlawful combatants." This system allows occupation authorities to detain individuals without charge or trial, a practice widely condemned by international rights groups.

Meanwhile, the number of prisoners classified as "unlawful combatants" has reached 2,454, not including the many detainees from Gaza held in military camps. According to the statement, this figure is the highest recorded since the beginning of the ongoing genocidal war waged by the occupation against Gaza.