Jailed Gaza hospital chief in life-threatening condition, rights group says

Elyas Abu Safia says his begetter tin hardly respire oregon talk aft much than 555 days successful Israeli prison.

The lad of a salient Palestinian doc abducted and held by Israel without complaint has issued an urgent entreaty for his father’s release, informing that his wellness has sharply deteriorated aft much than 555 days successful prison, arsenic a rights radical warned that his beingness was successful danger.

Elyas Abu Safia, the lad of Dr Hussam Abu Safia, said successful a video connection connected Sunday that his father, the manager of Kamal Adwan Hospital successful bluish Gaza, showed signs of terrible maltreatment aft Israeli authorities transferred him to solitary confinement successful a maximum-security prison.

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“The time earlier yesterday, the lawyer Nasser Odeh managed to sojourn my father, wherever helium told america achy details astir this visit,” said Elyas, who is besides a doctor.

“My begetter was incapable to breathe. My begetter was incapable to speak,” helium said, adding: “His look was disfigured from the marks of torture and pain, and the humor helium endured wrong the prison, particularly aft the past court session held successful Jerusalem.”

Israeli forces arrested Abu Safia astatine enactment connected December 27, 2024, arsenic they intensified their attacks connected bluish Gaza’s healthcare strategy arsenic portion of the genocidal warfare against Palestinians successful Gaza. Two months earlier, an Israeli drone onslaught killed different of his sons, Ibrahim, astatine the entranceway of the infirmary wherever helium worked.

Elyas accused Arab and Muslim leaders of abandoning his father.

“You deprived america adjacent of your voices, your solidarity and your support, which should person been determination from the commencement of the detention,” helium said.

“But sadly, your soundlessness is simply a betrayal and a crime, and complicity successful torturing my begetter and the hostages wrong Israeli prisons,” helium added.

‘The astir shocking testimony’

Physicians for Human Rights Israel warned that Abu Safiya’s beingness is successful contiguous information aft his transportation to the Rakefet conception of Nitzan prison.

The radical said lawyer Nasser Odeh visited Abu Safia connected July 2 and documented terrible injuries, signs of assault, trouble breathing and repeated nonaccomplishment of consciousness. It said guards brought him into the sojourn with his hands and feet bound and surrounded him with masked officers.

Odeh besides saw caller bruises and injuries connected Abu Safiya’s head, astir his eyes, ears and neck. The wounds were truthful terrible that the lawyer struggled to recognise him, the radical said.

“The accusation we received raises superior and contiguous concerns for Abu Safiya’s life. The lawyer’s grounds is among the astir shocking we person heard since the opening of the war: a antheral detained without complaint tells his lawyer that helium believes they volition termination him, aft helium arrived for the sojourn injured, suffering from trouble breathing, and connected the verge of losing consciousness,” Naji Abbas, manager of the Prisoners and Detainees Department astatine Physicians for Human Rights, told the authoritative Palestinian quality bureau Wafa.

Israeli authorities person not filed charges against Abu Safia. They classified him arsenic an “unlawful combatant”, a designation Israel has utilized to clasp Palestinians for prolonged periods without trial.

Physicians for Human Rights has demanded his release, on with different imprisoned Palestinian doctors. In March, United Nations experts besides called connected Israel to escaped Abu Safia instantly and guarantee helium receives aesculapian care.

He is 1 of 14 Palestinian doctors from Gaza presently held by Israel without charge.