The son of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a prominent Palestinian physician who has been held by Israeli authorities without charge for over 555 days, has issued an urgent public appeal regarding his father’s rapidly deteriorating health. Dr. Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, is currently being held in solitary confinement within a maximum-security facility. His son, Elyas Abu Safia, warned on Sunday that his father’s life is now in immediate danger due to severe physical abuse and systemic neglect.
The details regarding Dr. Abu Safia’s condition emerged following a visit by his lawyer, Nasser Odeh. In a video message, Elyas described the painful reality of his father’s current state. He stated that the physician, who has dedicated his life to serving the wounded in Gaza, is now struggling to breathe and is largely unable to speak. According to the account provided by the lawyer, the elder Abu Safia bears visible scars of torture and trauma, with his facial features reportedly disfigured from the abuse endured inside the prison, particularly following a recent court hearing held in Jerusalem.
Israeli forces abducted Dr. Abu Safia from his workplace on December 27, 2024, amidst a broader military campaign targeting healthcare infrastructure in northern Gaza. This arrest occurred only two months after the tragic death of his son, Ibrahim, who was killed in an Israeli drone strike at the entrance of the very hospital where his father served as director. For many, Dr. Abu Safia represents the resilience of Gaza’s medical sector, having fought to keep the facility operational under extreme duress during the conflict.
Elyas Abu Safia expressed profound frustration with the international community, particularly leaders across the Arab and Muslim world. He argued that the failure to voice solidarity or provide support since the commencement of his father`s detention constitutes a betrayal. He characterized the widespread silence as a form of complicity in the ongoing torture of both his father and other hostages held within the Israeli prison system. His plea serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the vulnerability of those caught in its machinery.
The detention of Dr. Abu Safia has drawn repeated condemnation from various human rights organizations, who view the targeting of medical professionals as a severe violation of international humanitarian law. As the health of the Kamal Adwan Hospital director continues to decline, his family maintains that time is running out. Their appeal for his release or immediate access to proper medical care remains unanswered, casting a shadow over the international community`s commitment to protecting those who have spent their lives saving others.
