Arabic version: نداء عاجل للإفراج عن مدير مستشفى غزة المسجون

Elyas Abu Safia, the son of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, has made an urgent appeal for his father’s release, citing a drastic decline in health after more than 555 days of imprisonment. Dr. Hussam, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, is reportedly in life-threatening condition due to severe abuse while in solitary confinement at a maximum-security prison. According to Al Jazeera, Elyas shared distressing details about his father’s condition following a visit from his lawyer, Nasser Odeh.

Elyas described his father’s inability to breathe or speak, and noted visible signs of torture, including disfigurement from injuries sustained in prison. He criticized Arab and Muslim leaders for their silence regarding his father’s plight, calling it a betrayal and complicity in the ongoing torture faced by detainees.

Physicians for Human Rights Israel has raised alarms about Dr. Abu Safia’s deteriorating health, highlighting that he was brought to the lawyer’s visit with his hands and feet shackled, surrounded by masked officers. The organization documented severe injuries, including fresh bruises and difficulty breathing, expressing serious concerns for his life. Naji Abbas, the director of the Prisoners and Detainees Department at Physicians for Human Rights, stated that the lawyer’s testimony was among the most shocking heard since the beginning of the war.

Israeli authorities have not filed charges against Dr. Abu Safia, classifying him as an “unlawful combatant.” The rights group has called for his release, alongside other Palestinian doctors who are also detained without charge. In March, United Nations experts urged Israel to release Dr. Abu Safia immediately and ensure he receives necessary medical care. He is one of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza currently held by Israeli forces without charge.