DaysofPal — Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of detained Palestinian doctor Hossam Abu Safiya, warning that his health is rapidly deteriorating due to severe abuse in Israeli custody.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the rights group said Abu Safiya has been subjected to “serious physical and psychological torture,” leaving him in critical condition.
It urged urgent international action, stressing that efforts to secure his release cannot be carried out alone.
The organization specifically called on Penny Wong and the Australian government to use diplomatic influence to press for his release.
According to Amnesty, Abu Safiya has been held for approximately 450 consecutive days following his arrest during a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Amnesty said, noting that there is a broader pattern of targeting Palestinian healthcare workers and the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system.
The organization emphasized that Abu Safiya was detained while carrying out his medical duties and remains imprisoned without charge or trial under administrative detention, a practice affecting thousands of Palestinians.
Over recent months, Abu Safiya has been a prominent voice documenting damage to Gaza’s health sector while continuing to treat patients under siege conditions.
His case, Amnesty said, reflects wider alleged violations against Palestinian detainees, including torture, denial of fair trials, and deprivation of basic human rights.
Abu Safiya, who serves as director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, had reportedly been among prisoners expected to be released under a recent ceasefire agreement.
He was arrested during the Israeli genocidal war and held under harsh conditions. Despite ongoing bombardment, he refused to evacuate the hospital and continued treating patients, even after the facility was struck and his son Ibrahim was killed in October 2024.
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