Gaza Herald _Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, says he continues to endure harsh detention conditions inside Israel’s underground Rakafet prison, where he has been held since his arrest in December 2024. During a recent meeting with his legal team, he appealed for urgent efforts to secure his release or transfer from the facility.
Abu Safiya met with his lawyer, Nasser Odeh, and attorney Tamir Blank, legal adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, on Tuesday, July 14. According to the lawyers, the conditions he described were largely unchanged from those he reported during their previous visit.
Reports of Renewed Beatings and Solitary Confinement
During the meeting, Abu Safiya said he was assaulted again by prison guards following his last legal visit. He said the attack caused bleeding from an injury to one of his fingers and that he remains held in complete solitary confinement.
He also said that a few days after his previous meeting with his lawyer, prison authorities took him for medical examinations, including X-rays, but never informed him of the results or explained his medical condition.
According to Abu Safiya, he was given pain medication for several days before it was discontinued without explanation or replacement treatment.
He added that although a prison doctor visited him several times during the past week to monitor his condition, no additional medical treatment or intervention was provided, leaving his health concerns unresolved while he remains in detention.
Concerns Over Confidentiality During Legal Visit
The lawyers said their meeting with Abu Safiya took place under restrictive conditions.
According to their account, two masked prison guards remained in a nearby room close enough to hear the conversation. Communication took place through an opaque barrier using a telephone, a setup they said did not ensure confidential communication between the detainee and his legal representatives.
Medical Concerns Continue to Grow
The latest testimony comes after Israeli authorities told the Supreme Court they had found no indication that Abu Safiya’s life was in danger and said he had undergone several medical examinations since being transferred to Rakafet prison.
However, authorities have not released the results of those examinations or provided a detailed response to previous testimony presented by attorney Nasser Odeh concerning allegations that Abu Safiya was subjected to severe violence before the lawyer’s July 2 visit.
The lack of medical information has increased concerns about both his health and the conditions of his detention.
Calls for Independent Medical Evaluation
Physicians for Human Rights says the Israeli Prison Service has not responded to requests for Abu Safiya’s complete medical file or allowed an independent physician from the organization to examine him.
The organization says Abu Safiya’s testimony regarding renewed violence after his previous legal visit, combined with the conditions inside the underground detention facility, requires urgent intervention to assess both his health and legal situation.
It has called for an independent medical and legal examination free from restrictions imposed by the detention authorities, saying the available information raises serious concerns about his physical and psychological well-being.
The organization also urged authorities to ensure Abu Safiya receives appropriate medical care, allow independent doctors to monitor his condition, transfer him out of the underground facility, and end his solitary confinement in accordance with international standards governing the treatment of detainees.
Appeal for Medical Care and Transfer
During the visit, Abu Safiya asked his lawyers to continue efforts to secure his transfer from Rakafet prison and bring an end to his isolation.
He said his current detention conditions continue to worsen both his physical and mental health.
Abu Safiya also requested immediate medical attention, saying he is experiencing a noticeable problem with his right eye that was evident during the meeting. He called for an examination by an ophthalmologist to diagnose the condition and provide appropriate treatment.
He further requested that he be allowed access to the medical care he needs without delay, and asked prison authorities to return his prescription glasses, saying their confiscation has directly affected his vision and daily life inside the prison.
He also appealed for continued access to pain medication as his health continues to deteriorate.
Legal Case Remains Pending
The developments come as Physicians for Human Rights pursues a legal petition seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza, including Abu Safiya, who are being held in Israeli custody without formal charges or trial.
Israeli authorities have asked the court to dismiss the petition without holding a hearing. The court has instructed the organization and the petitioners to submit their response to the state’s position by July 19.
A judge will decide how the case proceeds after reviewing the submissions. No hearing date has yet been scheduled.
Israeli forces arrested Abu Safiya on December 27, 2024, during a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was still operating under wartime conditions at the time of his detention.
