DaysofPal- In a harrowing account that sheds light on the conditions of Palestinians detained by Israeli forces, lawyer Gheed Kassem has disclosed that renowned pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, abducted from Gaza last December, is suffering from severe health complications in Israeli detention.
During a rare visit, Kassem reported that both Dr. Abu Safiya and his nephew, Hussam Zaher, are being held in inhumane conditions, deprived of basic medical care and hygienic necessities. The two detainees are reportedly exposed to sunlight for no more than 30 minutes per month, and suffer from scabies, boils, and severe skin infections due to poor sanitation and neglect.
“They are wearing the same clothes since their arrest. Their bathing time is limited to two minutes, and they’ve each lost around a third of their body weight,” said Kassem.
Kassem warned that the detainees are in urgent need of dermatological treatment, emphasizing the lack of proper medical supervision in the Israeli prison facility where they are held. He added that the overall prison conditions, including denial of medical care, poor nutrition, and overcrowding, have become a death sentence for many detainees, especially those arrested from Gaza.
Dr. Abu Safiya, who was forcibly taken by Israeli soldiers from Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, sent a message through his lawyer:
“I entered in the name of humanity, and I will leave in the name of humanity. I was abducted from inside the hospital. We will remain on our land and continue to provide healthcare services to the people, God willing, even from a tent.”
A Pattern of Medical Detention
Dr. Abu Safiya is not the only medical worker to be targeted. Human rights organizations and medical bodies have condemned Israel’s systematic targeting and abduction of healthcare professionals in Gaza, viewing it as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the healthcare system during wartime.
His case is emblematic of the grave violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the targeting of medical personnel and require humane treatment of prisoners.
International medical advocacy groups have called for independent access to Israeli detention centers and the immediate release of all detained healthcare workers. As the war on Gaza enters its eleventh month, such cases are mounting, deepening the humanitarian crisis and further devastating the region’s already crippled medical infrastructure.
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