Warnings of deteriorating health of Kamal Adwan Hospital director in solitary confinement

Nasser Odeh, the lawyer for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, revealed a serious deterioration in the health and humanitarian conditions of his client inside Israeli occupation prisons. Odeh explained that the Israeli authorities recently transferred Dr. Abu Safiya to solitary confinement in 'Nafha' prison, which led to a complete قطع of his communication with lawyers, human rights organizations, or even his fellow prisoners.

Legal sources reported that Abu Safiya's transfer from Naqab Prison to solitary confinement came directly after an appeal was filed with the Israeli Supreme Court to consider the legality of his detention. The lawyer pointed out that his client has not undergone any medical examination since his transfer, despite his known suffering from chronic diseases that require intensive care and daily and regular medication to ensure the stability of his condition.

Regarding the health situation, the defense confirmed that the detained doctor repeatedly requested the prison administration to enable him to obtain his necessary medications and undergo urgent medical examinations, but these requests were met with continuous refusal. This critical medical file was presented to the Supreme Court during the appeal session, to warn of the serious consequences of neglecting his health condition related to heart problems and high blood pressure.

On the legal front, the defense team stressed the need for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abu Safiya, based on the fact that he was arrested while performing his humanitarian and professional duty as the director of a medical facility. The lawyer confirmed that medical teams enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting or arresting medical personnel during armed conflicts.

Odeh pointed out that Dr. Abu Safiya has been in detention for about a year and a half without any official indictment or clear and specific charges being brought against him. The Israeli security services claim the existence of 'secret materials' indicating that he poses a security threat, a pretext used to extend his detention without providing public evidence that would allow the defense to refute it in court.

The last court session ended without a final decision, as the defense team awaits a judicial decision regarding the continuation of detention in the coming days. The lawyer conveyed a message from the imprisoned doctor confirming his adherence to his professional identity as a pediatrician who dedicated his life to treating patients, considering what he is subjected to as arbitrary detention aimed at preventing him from returning to his family and hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.

It is worth noting that the occupation forces arrested Hussam Abu Safiya on December 27, 2024, during a widespread raid that targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital. Demands from UN and international human rights organizations are increasing for urgent intervention to ensure the doctor's safety and provide him with the necessary treatment, in light of reports confirming a worrying deterioration in his health condition in solitary confinement.

Abu Safiya is a pediatrician who performed humanitarian work, and his arbitrary detention deprives him of returning to his environment and work in treating patients.