Fears for imprisoned Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safiya

Prominent Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safiya is in "immediate danger" in an Israeli prison, his lawyers and a human rights group have warned. Dr. Abu Safiya, who led the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, was arrested by Israeli forces in late December 2024 following a siege of the facility.

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According to Attorney Odeh's affidavit, Dr Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting shackled by his hands and feet and accompanied by masked prison guards.

His legal team and family vehemently reject allegations linking him to Hamas. Despite this, he has been held without formal charge for 18 months and transferred between several Israeli prisons. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) released new details after a meeting between Dr. Abu Safiya and his lawyer, Nasser Odeh, at Nitzan prison.

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He bore fresh, severe injuries to his head, around his eyes, and on his ears and neck, to the extent that his lawyer initially struggled to recognise him.

According to Attorney Odeh's affidavit, Dr. Abu Safiya appeared severely injured, with fresh wounds on his head, eyes, ears, and neck, making him difficult for his lawyer to recognize. He reportedly struggled to breathe and speak, appeared extremely weak, and was on the verge of losing consciousness. The doctor allegedly expressed grave fear for his life, telling his lawyer, "This is the last time you will see me… They brought me here to kill me. I don't see myself surviving. This is the end."

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Based on these direct observations, Attorney Odeh concluded that Dr Abu Safiya's life is in immediate danger.

PHRI stated that Dr. Abu Safiya is being held in an underground interrogation facility known as 'Rakefet,' which has a history of alleged abuse. The Israel Prison Service has dismissed the allegations as "false and entirely without factual basis" but declined to comment specifically on Dr. Abu Safiya's condition, citing privacy and security concerns. They maintain that all prisoners are treated lawfully and receive medical care according to guidelines.

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He further detailed that since his transfer to the Rakefet facility on June 24, 2026, he has been subjected to daily beatings, resulting in several instances of loss of consciousness, but without receiving appropriate medical treatment.