In a stark depiction of alleged brutality, the lawyer for Gaza‑based medical director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya has testified that his client endured severe beatings while held without charge at the Rakefet interrogation facility. The lawyer, Nasser Odeh, reported that Abu Safiya’s face was bruised, his breathing had become laboured, and he had "nearly lost consciousness several times".
Abu Safiya was detained in December 2024 after Israeli forces accused him of being a Hamas insider, citing his rank within the Hamas-run interior ministry’s health department. Despite international calls to cease attacks on hospitals and to uphold proper medical care, the doctor has been denied treatment while in custody.
Israel's Prison Service has denied the allegations, labeling them "false". It claims all detainees receive medical care based on Ministry of Health guidelines, though no details were released regarding Abu Safiya's health condition. The Israel Supreme Court has, however, ordered a response to a petition calling for the release of the doctor and 13 others, signifying escalating legal pressure.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Abu Safiya’s detention arbitrary and urged immediate release, framing the case as a possible indicator of systematic practices of unlawful detention. Amnesty International and Physicians for Human Rights Israel have voiced concern, demanding urgent medical treatment and judicial oversight.
With 18 months of silence, the lawyer remains optimistic that the doctor will soon be released from prison and receive proper care.
