DaysofPal—The mother of Dr. Hussam Abu Safieh, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital and a detainee held by Israeli forces, passed away Wednesday morning from a sudden heart attack. Her son, still in detention, was denied the chance to bid her farewell or attend her funeral, compounding the family’s grief.
Palestinian media sources confirmed the sudden death, which has cast a shadow of sorrow over the Abu Safieh family. The tragedy comes amid the doctor’s ongoing detention, with limited information available about his condition or whereabouts.
Dr. Abu Safieh was arrested on Friday, December 27, when Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza following hours of its siege. The assault left parts of the hospital in flames and rendered it non-operational. Patients, injured civilians, and medical staff were assaulted during the raid, which resulted in the detention of over 400 individuals, including Dr. Abu Safieh.
Photographs from the raid captured the harrowing moment of his arrest, showing the doctor handcuffed and still in his medical attire amid the hospital’s ruins.
An Israeli human rights organization recently revealed that Dr. Abu Safieh has been denied access to his legal counsel since his detention, a move it described as a blatant violation of detainee rights. Authorities have also refused to disclose his location, with a tentative date set for January 10, 2025, for his lawyer to meet him—a delay criticized as excessive and unjust.
The rights group “Physicians for Human Rights” issued a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), denouncing the restrictions imposed on Dr. Abu Safieh. The organization urged Israeli occupation authorities to immediately allow access to legal representation and disclose his whereabouts.
Dr. Abu Safieh’s suffering did not begin with his arrest. He lost his son, Ibrahim, during an Israeli military operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital on October 26, 2024. He was also injured in an airstrike targeting the hospital in November but continued his work treating patients despite the risks. His dedication has made him a symbol of resilience and humanitarian commitment in Gaza.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed deep concern over Dr. Abu Safieh’s detention. In a public appeal, he called for his immediate release and emphasized the importance of ensuring his safety.
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