Gaza hospital director held in notorious Sde Teiman: CNN
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Recently released Palestinian detainees who had been held at Sde Teiman, an ill-famed detention camp in the al-Naqab desert near the Gaza border, said they had seen Dr. Abu Safiya or have heard his name.
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A photo released by CNN shows dozens of Palestinian detainees in the Israeli Sde Teiman detention center. (Undated, Social media)
The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who was detained during an Israeli raid that shut down the last major functioning health facility in northern Gaza, is reportedly being held at a notorious Israeli detention camp, CNN reported, citing released detainees.
Dr. Abu Safiya, who was last seen publicly on Friday when Israeli invading units raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, has not been heard from since. Hospital staff reported that the Israeli forces started a fire in the hospital, then rounded up everyone outside, forcing them to strip for hours before being made to leave.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is a symbol of unwavering dedication to humanity. Even after losing his son, his home, and sustaining an injury from an Isr*eli attack, he continued to stay with his patients at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
— 𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰 (@LailaPalestini1) December 29, 2024
Now detained in illegal Isr*eli prisons, the world pic.twitter.com/AiybEpt789
Following his detention, Dr. Abu Safiya’s family appealed for information about his whereabouts. Recently released Palestinian detainees who had been held at Sde Teiman, an ill-famed detention camp in the al-Naqab desert near the Gaza border, said they had seen Dr. Abu Safiya or heard his name, as per the report.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya has been confirmed to be in Sde Teiman detention center by released prisoner Yahya Zaqqout, who reported hearing his name during morning roll call. CNN corroborated the same story through released prisoners Ahmad Al Sayyed Saleem and Alaa Abu Banat, who were… pic.twitter.com/Fq1u8RS8pB
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) December 30, 2024
Ahmad al-Sayyed Saleem, 18, who was detained 42 days ago after evacuating northern Gaza, told CNN that a doctor from the Abu Safiya family was brought into the prison on Saturday.
Yahya Zaqout, also detained 42 days ago, said he did not personally see Dr. Abu Safiya, but overheard his name called.
Alaa Abu Banat, another former detainee, confirmed that a medical team from Kamal Adwan Hospital, including Dr. Abu Safiya, was brought to Sde Teiman.
Abu Banat said one of his cellmates, a doctor, was beaten until his eye bled and had spoken to Dr. Abu Safiya.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s family said, as quoted by CNN, “Sde Teiman is known for brutality and torture. We can't imagine what our father is going through in that place and if he is well or not, warm or cold… hungry or in pain.”
They added, “It is widely known the immense efforts he has made since the beginning of the war to support the only healthcare system for the residents of north Gaza.”
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed on Saturday that Israeli occupation forces have detained Abu Safiya. On Friday, the ministry stated that the occupation forces had taken dozens of medical staff, including Abu Safiya, to an interrogation center following the burning of Kamal Adwan Hospital.
The Media Office further stated that reports of Abu Safiya enduring severe violations and physical and psychological pressure after his detention — including being used as a human shield — represent a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and international conventions.
Read more: Al-Azhar al-Sharif condemns IOF burning of Kamal Adwan
Hamas urges international pressure on 'Israel' to reveal the fate of Abu Safiya
Hamas has placed full responsibility on "Israel" for the safety of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, and all medical staff abducted by the Israeli military during a recent raid, amid growing concerns about their well-being. Reports suggest that the detainees have been subjected to harsh treatment and abuse while in Israeli custody.
In an official statement, Hamas called on the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other global human rights organizations to intensify pressure on Israeli authorities. The group demanded that "Israel" disclose the whereabouts of Dr. Abu Safiya and his colleagues, who were detained while performing their medical duties, and called for their immediate release.
Hamas also emphasized the need for urgent action to restore basic medical services in northern Gaza. The group condemned the Israeli destruction of health facilities in the region, accusing the Israeli military of rendering all medical infrastructure inoperable, which it described as a blatant violation of international law.
