Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, 56 years old, remains imprisoned by the Israeli occupation under extremely poor health conditions that continue to deteriorate day by day.
His lawyer, Ms. Ghaid Ghanem Qassem, stated in an exclusive interview with the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Defense that Dr. Abu Safiya’s medical file is missing, and the legal team has been waiting for it for three months. The Israeli prison authorities continue to refuse access to it. She noted that her client’s health condition is very serious due to his age and medical history — he suffers from high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.
In previous reports, Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer mentioned that he lost 40 kilograms during the first months of his detention. She explained that he was violently assaulted — beaten severely on the chest, face, head, and neck — for approximately 30 minutes during one of the interrogation sessions.
Qassem added that the occupation authorities have refused to provide treatment or allow Dr. Abu Safiya to be examined by a specialist. He is subjected to starvation, torture, and constant solitary confinement. He is held in an underground cell in Ofer prison, which does not receive sunlight. All of his belongings have been confiscated, and despite repeated requests, he is still being denied prescription glasses.
Dr. Abu Safiya, who was the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, was arrested by Israeli forces on December 27, 2024, while on duty at the hospital in northern Gaza. He and several other doctors, staff, and civilians were detained. He, along with other prisoners, suffers from extremely harsh detention conditions as a result of the occupation’s practices inside prisons — a clear continuation of Israel’s daily violations of all international laws, regulations, and humanitarian norms.
