DaysofPal – The Israeli-based organization Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) warned on Saturday of a severe deterioration in the health of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who has been detained by Israeli authorities for several months.
In a statement, the organization said an affidavit submitted by Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Nasser Odeh, revealed that the Palestinian physician’s physical and psychological condition has worsened to the point that it now poses a serious threat to his life.
According to Odeh, he visited Abu Safiya on June 2 while the doctor remained in Israeli custody.
The lawyer said Abu Safiya had recently been transferred to the underground interrogation unit known as “Rakivet” inside Ramla Prison and called for his immediate removal from the facility. He also urged that a judicial committee be allowed to conduct an urgent visit to assess his medical condition “before it is too late.”
Odeh stated that Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting in handcuffs and surrounded by masked prison guards.
He said he initially struggled to recognize his client because of the severe and recent injuries and bruises visible on his body, including injuries to his head.
The lawyer added that Abu Safiya was experiencing difficulty breathing and speaking continuously, suffered from loss of balance, and appeared to be in a state of extreme fear and psychological exhaustion.
According to the affidavit cited by Physicians for Human Rights, Abu Safiya told his lawyer that he had been assaulted by four or five prison guards while being held in solitary confinement.
He said he was beaten across different parts of his body using various objects, adding that guards at times used hammers and batons during the assaults.
Abu Safiya further stated that he has been subjected to violence and beatings on a daily basis since being transferred to the underground interrogation unit, and that he has not received adequate medical treatment despite losing consciousness several times.
The organization quoted Abu Safiya as telling his lawyer: “This is the last time you will see me. They brought me here to kill me.”
Israeli authorities arrested Abu Safiya on December 27, 2024, under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law, without filing criminal charges or initiating criminal proceedings against him.
After the Beersheba District Court extended his detention for an additional six months, his legal team appealed the decision to the Israeli Supreme Court. The appeal was rejected on June 10, 2026.
On April 30, 2026, Physicians for Human Rights filed a petition with the Israeli High Court of Justice seeking the release of Abu Safiya and other Palestinian doctors detained by Israel.
Until early June, Abu Safiya was being held at Ketziot Prison. Shortly after the legal appeal and High Court petition seeking his release were submitted, he was transferred to solitary confinement at Ganot Prison.
Last week, on June 24, 2026, he was moved to the Rakivet interrogation unit inside Nitzan Prison.
According to Physicians for Human Rights, information available to the organization and testimony from Abu Safiya’s lawyer indicate that the sharp escalation in the assaults and acts of torture against him, which reportedly led to the severe deterioration of his physical and psychological condition, occurred shortly after the legal proceedings challenging his detention began.
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