Gaza Herald- Detained Palestinian pediatrician Hussam Abu Safiya showed visible signs of torture and deteriorating health during his latest appearance before an Israeli court, his son said on Thursday.
The family of detained Gaza hospital director Hussam was shocked by his appearance via video link from an Israeli prison during a Supreme Court hearing in Jerusalem, his son Elias Abu Safiya told Anadolu on Wednesday.
Elias said the family was struck by their father’s appearance after months of absence, saying his face showed visible signs of pain.
He reported that his father showed visible signs of torture on the left side of his face and a skin condition affecting his hands, adding that he appeared exhausted after months of suffering.
He said the family had hoped to be reassured by seeing him, but were instead confronted with an image reflecting his suffering in detention.
Elias stated it was painful to see a doctor who had devoted his life to treating the wounded and saving patients in such a condition, while the world remained silent.
Shock beyond description
Elias said the family was overwhelmed with shock after seeing his condition, describing silence at home before relatives broke down in tears, and added that the appearance raised further concerns over his father’s health and treatment in detention.
He questioned how much suffering could still be hidden behind prison walls, given the visible marks on his father.
Elias added that the family feels helpless as they watch Hussam suffer without being able to comfort or protect him.
He described the image as more than “just another prisoner photo,” calling it “a humanitarian cry” from a pediatrician who spent years serving others and now needs support.
First appearance in more than a year
Hussam appeared in public for the first time in over a year during a Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, demanding his release and describing his detention as “unjust and arbitrary,” his lawyer Nasser Abu Odeh said.
Abu Odeh said the court delayed its decision on whether Abu Safiya’s detention would be extended, leaving the matter pending for several hours or days.
Hussam, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, was detained by Israeli forces on Dec. 27, 2024, following a raid on the facility during military operations in northern Gaza.
Rights groups and lawyers have said Hussam suffered severe weight loss, skin infections and medical neglect while in detention.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have reported allegations that the detained pediatrician was subjected to abuse and mistreatment in Israeli custody.
Palestinian and Israeli rights groups say about 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, where detainees face torture, starvation and medical neglect, leading to the deaths of dozens of prisoners.
Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed nearly 73,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 173,000, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian figures.
Despite a ceasefire declared last October, Israeli forces have killed 981 Palestinians and injured 3,104 in near-daily attacks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
