Gaza Herald- Once known for treating patients amid the devastation of war in northern Gaza, Palestinian physician Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya is now reportedly fighting for his own health inside Israeli prisons. His lawyer says the detained doctor is being held under harsh conditions, including solitary confinement, medical neglect, and the denial of basic necessities, raising growing concerns about his well-being.
Alarming Conditions of Detention
Attorney Nasser Odeh revealed on Sunday that his latest visit with Abu Safiya exposed what he described as severe humanitarian and health-related hardships inside Israeli detention facilities.
According to Odeh, the imprisoned doctor spends much of his time with his hands and feet shackled. He also faces shortages of food and lacks access to safe drinking water, while continuing to endure inadequate medical care.
Chronic Illnesses Without Treatment
The lawyer said Abu Safiya suffers from several chronic medical conditions that require regular medication and ongoing treatment. However, he reported that the doctor has recently been deprived of essential medicines, heightening fears about the deterioration of his health.
Odeh warned that denying treatment to a prisoner suffering from chronic illnesses places him at serious risk, particularly as concerns mount over his ability to access necessary healthcare while in detention.
Transfer to Solitary Confinement
According to the lawyer, he visited Abu Safiya at Israel’s Negev Prison on May 26. Days later, on June 3, Israeli authorities transferred him to solitary confinement in Nafha Prison.
The move came shortly after the defense team submitted an appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court challenging the continuation of his detention. This development has intensified concerns among family members and rights advocates.
Odeh said that since Abu Safiya’s transfer to isolation, communication has effectively been cut off, and no updated information regarding his condition has been made available.
A Heavily Restricted Visit
The lawyer described the prison visit as highly restrictive. The meeting took place inside a surveillance room monitored by cameras, while Abu Safiya remained handcuffed and shackled.
Communication between the two was conducted through a telephone behind a glass barrier, with guards stationed on both sides throughout the meeting.
During the visit, Abu Safiya reportedly complained of a lack of drinkable water, insufficient food, and what he described as ongoing deliberate medical neglect inside the prison.
Symbol of the Targeting of Gaza’s Medical Sector
Since his arrest on December 27, 2024, following an Israeli raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Abu Safiya has become one of the most prominent symbols of the detention of Palestinian medical personnel during the war.
The physician, who served as director of the hospital, was detained inside the medical facility and later transferred to Israeli interrogation centers and prisons.
Growing Fears Over His Health
Statements from his family, Palestinian rights organizations, and testimonies from released detainees have alleged that Abu Safiya has been subjected to a series of violations throughout his imprisonment.
Concerns over his condition have continued to grow as he reportedly suffers from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure while being denied consistent medical treatment.
Rights advocates warn that his continued isolation, combined with the reported lack of adequate healthcare and basic living necessities, poses a serious threat to his health and well-being as calls intensify for international intervention on his behalf.
