Palestinian Doctor Detained in Israel Faces Critical Health Issues

Hussam Abu Safiya, a prominent Palestinian doctor, has been held by Israeli forces for 18 months. His lawyer and a human rights group state that he has been mistreated during this time and is now in critical condition.

Abu Safiya, who led the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, became a notable figure among medical professionals during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He managed the hospital during an 85-day siege by the Israeli army, pleading for assistance through videos before his arrest in December 2024. Despite his detention, he has not been formally charged.

The Israeli military claims Abu Safiya, aged 53, is under investigation for allegedly collaborating with or working for Hamas. However, international aid workers who collaborated with him dispute these accusations. According to Physicians for Human Rights Israel and his lawyer, Nasser Odeh, Abu Safiya appeared extremely frail and struggled to sit up straight during a visit on July 2. He had recent head injuries and difficulty breathing.

Abu Safiya suffered both physical and psychological abuse and was kept in isolation for extended periods, stated Odeh following a Supreme Court appearance last month where Abu Safiya’s detention without charges was contested.

During that hearing, Abu Safiya appeared briefly via video, looking pale and gaunt, with whip-like marks on his arms. The Israeli Prison Service dismissed the abuse charges as “false and entirely without factual basis.” They refused to discuss the case directly, citing privacy concerns, but maintained that all detainees are treated in accordance with the law and receive medical care per Health Ministry guidelines.

Israel faces intense scrutiny for its treatment of Palestinian prisoners and detainees since the conflict with Hamas began in October 2023. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have condemned what they describe as systematic abuse patterns.

The number of Palestinians in Israeli detention surged after the war’s commencement, with thousands remaining jailed. Associated Press has previously reported on harsh prison conditions. The Israel-Hamas war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas initiated an attack on southern Israel, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In response, over 73,000 Palestinians have reportedly died in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.

Reporters Samy Magdy in Cairo and Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv contributed to this story.