Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya's son describes father's severe torture in "Israeli" custody

The Palestinian Ministry of Health issued an urgent plea for the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, along with all other medical personnel currently detained by the Israeli Occupation.

A recent visit by a lawyer from the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights to Ofer Prison revealed troubling details about the treatment of detainees.

According to reports from Wafa news agency, Dr. Abu Safiya described various forms of torture and abuse he endured during his unlawful arrest and subsequent detention by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).

His son, Ilyas, shed light on the severity of the situation, stating, “My father was subjected to severe mistreatment and torture by the army in the early days of his arrest and was held in solitary confinement for 24 days. After that, he was transferred to Ofer Prison, Room 24, Section 2.”

Dr. Abu Safiya has reportedly lost around 15kg and suffers from an enlarged heart muscle. Despite his health issues, he has been denied access to a specialist doctor and adequate medical care, even after making multiple requests to the IOF prison administration.

Ilyas added that his father has chronic high blood pressure and is receiving only minimal treatment. “He is only provided with one meal a day, which is insufficient and of very poor quality,” he noted.

The statement also detailed the traumatic experiences faced by Dr. Abu Safiya during his initial detention. Upon his transfer from Gaza, he was reportedly forced to strip, had his hands tied, and was made to sit on sharp pebbles for nearly five hours. He also suffered electric shocks and severe beatings to the chest while in custody, enduring 25 days of detention at Ofer Prison, which included ten days of continuous interrogation that left him fainting from suffocation.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health condemned the repeated attacks on medical personnel, calling them serious violations of international law and the protections outlined in the Second Protocol of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The ministry urged the international community to act swiftly to secure the release of detained Palestinian healthcare workers.

Ilyas emphasized that Dr. Abu Safiya has not been formally charged and that all accusations against him have been dismissed due to insufficient evidence. He expressed hope for his father's imminent release and called for global pressure to ensure the freedom of all detained healthcare workers.