DaysofPal- The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned that the life of detained Palestinian physician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is at risk in Israeli custody, calling for his immediate release and urgent access to medical care.
The UN office said the health of Dr. Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has significantly deteriorated while in Israeli detention. It urged the Israeli authorities to ensure his physical and psychological safety and provide him with the medical treatment he urgently requires.
According to the statement, Dr. Abu Safiya has been held since December 2024 without being formally charged or brought to trial. The UN called for his immediate release or, at a minimum, for him to be granted a fair trial in accordance with international legal standards.
The office said it had received information, including testimony from the doctor’s legal representatives, indicating that he has been subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including prolonged solitary confinement, repeated physical abuse, and the denial of medical care.
The warning follows recent calls by a UN-appointed Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abu Safiya and other detained Palestinian healthcare workers. The commission said their continued detention and reported mistreatment may constitute serious violations of international law.
Recent reports based on a visit by his lawyer indicate that Dr. Abu Safiya’s health has sharply deteriorated as a result of repeated abuse and the denial of adequate medical treatment while in Israeli custody.
His case has drawn growing international attention amid broader concerns over the treatment of Palestinian detainees and healthcare workers in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza.
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