The lawyer of a high-profile Gazan physician detained by Israel since final December has spoken of her shock over his situation after being allowed a uncommon go to to see him in jail.
“As a young woman, seeing an older man – a respected doctor like Hussam Abu Safiya – broken in front of me, degraded, surrounded by prison guards, in the worst possible condition, how am I supposed to feel?” she stated.
“The conditions of his detention are extremely harsh, inhumane, with continuous assaults.
“That is the sixth time he has been brutally attacked.
“The most recent incident was on 24 June, which coincided with the end of Israel’s war with Iran and the strike on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba [Israel].
“It appears the jail authorities determined to take revenge. They raided Abu Safiya’s cell and commenced assaulting him.
“He was beaten, sustaining bruises on his head, neck, and back. Afterwards, he requested medical treatment because he felt abnormal heartbeats, but his request was denied.”
Picture:
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya (centre) together with his colleagues. Pic: Dr Eid Sabbah, Kamal Adwan Hospital
Picture:
Ghaid Qassem
It’s thought that since his detention Dr Abu Safiya has been held at a lot of Israeli jails.
His lawyer stated she was allowed entry to satisfy with him at Ofer jail, close to Jerusalem.
Ms Qassem stated there was no correct healthcare or hygiene and it’s claimed the paediatrician is being held in an underground cell.
“They can’t shower, their clothes aren’t replaced, not even underwear,” she stated. “Scabies is rampant, skin diseases are widespread and the most basic medical attention is only given when they see you’re on the verge of death.”
Dr Abu Safiya was final seen in Gaza, sporting his white physician’s coat as he walked by the rubble outdoors his hospital in direction of an Israeli tank in December 2024.
Picture:
That is believed to be one of many final sightings of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya earlier than he was detained
Earlier than then he had turn out to be a widely known voice and face of the Kamal Adwan hospital, sharing movies concerning the siege of the medical facility and explaining how employees had been struggling to proceed working beneath Israeli bombardment.
The hospital has since been compelled to shut down.
Picture:
Oneg Ben Dror, from Physicians for Human Rights Israel
She stated: “We know that more than 250 health care workers were arrested since the start of the war on Gaza.
“A part of them had been launched, and greater than 100 are nonetheless detained. Now we have their names, and we managed to go to dozens of them whereas in detention.
“All those we met weren’t charged officially with any offence.
“We requested them concerning the interrogation and all of them stated the questions they had been requested weren’t about them or a particular offence.
“It was more information gathering about their workplace and people they knew and this is against international law arresting them while doing their job and holding them for intelligence gathering and as bargaining chips for a potential deal.”
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Medical doctors on the frontline
A spokesperson for the Israel Jail Service (IPS) stated: “All prisoners are detained according to the law. All basic rights required are fully applied by professionally trained prison guards.
“We aren’t conscious of the claims you described, and so far as we all know, no such occasions have occurred beneath IPS duty.
“Nonetheless, prisoners and detainees have the right to file a complaint that will be fully examined and addressed by official authorities.”
Picture:
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and Dr Eid Sabbah, labored collectively in Gaza. Pic: Dr Eid Sabbah, Kamal Adwan Hospital
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He stated: “We pray to God to give Dr Abu Safiya strength, to ease his suffering soon, and to see him free – just like the rest of our people, our patients, our wounded, and all the doctors who were detained from this hospital.
“He was the form of physician who took daring stands for his colleague. On the similar time, he by no means deserted his sufferers, even beneath excessive strain.
“Despite calls urging him to evacuate the hospital for his own safety, he refused to leave. He stayed by his patients’ sides, fully committed to serving them – especially the children, the elderly, the women, and the injured.”
