DaysofPal- The lawyer of imprisoned Palestinian doctor Hossam Abu Safiya has warned of a serious deterioration in his client’s health and detention conditions inside Israeli prisons, citing prolonged isolation, inadequate nutrition, lack of clean drinking water, and ongoing medical neglect.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, attorney Nasser Odeh said his most recent visit revealed that Abu Safiya is enduring extremely difficult humanitarian and health conditions. According to Odeh, the doctor spends most of his time with his hands and feet shackled, while facing food shortages and limited access to potable water.
Odeh stated that Abu Safiya suffers from several chronic medical conditions that require regular medication and treatment. However, he has reportedly been denied access to essential medicines in recent weeks, raising concerns about the continued deterioration of his health.
The lawyer said he last visited Abu Safiya at Israel’s Negev Prison on May 26. On June 3, Israeli authorities transferred him to solitary confinement in Nafha Prison, a move that has heightened fears regarding his well-being.
He added that no updated information has been available about Abu Safiya’s condition since the transfer, increasing concerns among his legal team and family, particularly given his ongoing need for medication and medical care.
Odeh described the circumstances of his last visit as highly restrictive. The meeting took place in a room under camera surveillance, while Abu Safiya remained shackled by both his hands and feet. Communication between the two was conducted by telephone through a glass partition, with prison guards stationed on both sides of the room.
According to the lawyer, Abu Safiya complained of a lack of safe drinking water, insufficient food, and deliberate medical neglect inside the prison.
His transfer to solitary confinement came just days after the defense team filed an appeal before Israel’s Supreme Court challenging the continuation of his detention, a development that has further intensified concerns over his health and safety.
Since his arrest on December 27, 2024, following an Israeli raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Abu Safiya has become one of the most prominent symbols of the targeting of Palestinian medical personnel during the war. He was detained from the hospital he directed and subsequently transferred to Israeli interrogation centers and prisons.
Testimonies from his family, human rights organizations, and released detainees indicate that Abu Safiya has been subjected to a series of violations throughout his detention. Concerns about his condition have continued to grow as he reportedly suffers from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure while being deprived of the medical care he requires.
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