DaysofPal- The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital and a Palestinian healthcare worker, Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, was finally permitted to see his attorney for the first time since his kidnapping from Gaza after 47 days of arbitrary detention.
According to a statement by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Dr. Abu Safiya detailed extensive torture and abuse suffered at the hands of Israeli forces, reinforcing concerns over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees.
Dr. Abu Safiya was forcibly taken from Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya on 27 December 2024, along with several other doctors, medical staff, patients, and civilians. Since then, he has been detained in Israel without being charged or given a trial, and his request for legal representation has been consistently denied. Al Mezan’s lawyer met with him on 12 February 2025 in Ofer Prison, where the doctor provided a harrowing account of his ordeal.
During his initial detention at Sde Teiman military detention camp, Dr. Abu Safiya was subjected to multiple forms of torture and degrading treatment. He reported being forcibly stripped, shackled, and made to sit on sharp gravel for approximately five hours. Additionally, he was subjected to severe physical abuse, including beatings with batons and electric shock sticks, as well as repeated blows to the chest.
Upon his transfer to Ofer Prison on 9 January 2025, Dr. Abu Safiya was held in solitary confinement for 25 days, an extended period that amounts to psychological torture. He underwent nearly continuous interrogation for 10 days and, at one point, lost consciousness due to severe breathing difficulties. The doctor has vehemently denied all accusations against him, asserting that his sole role has been providing medical care to the wounded.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s health has significantly deteriorated in detention. His weight has dropped from 96 kg to 84 kg, a rapid 12 kg loss in less than two months, raising concerns of systematic starvation policies imposed on Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, he disclosed suffering from heart muscle enlargement. Despite repeated requests for medical attention, Israeli authorities have denied him access to specialized healthcare, exacerbating his condition.
Al Mezan strongly condemns the documented instances of torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect suffered by Dr. Abu Safiya. The organization has long warned of the risks posed by the Israeli government’s systematic denial of legal counsel to Palestinian detainees, a practice that enables severe human rights violations. Al Mezan further underscores that Dr. Abu Safiya’s case is not an isolated incident but part of Israel’s ongoing and widespread abuses against Palestinian prisoners, particularly healthcare workers.
The organization calls upon the international community, especially Israel’s allies, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abu Safiya, along with all Palestinians subjected to unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention. Al Mezan also urges accountability for Israeli officials responsible for these violations of international law, including the systematic use of torture and medical neglect in detention facilities.
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