Euro-Med raises alarm over the severe risk to Abu Safiya’s life, urging for his prompt release
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has issued a stark warning concerning the critical threat to the life of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. Dr. Abu Safiya was detained by Israeli forces in late December. The organization emphasized that the Israeli authorities bear complete responsibility for his well-being.
The Geneva-based organization announced on Saturday that it has obtained information indicating a decline in the health of Dr. Abu Safiya following his arrest. This deterioration is reportedly linked to torture endured during his detention at the Sde Teyman military base, which also functions as a detention facility in the Negev desert, located in the southern region of the occupied territories.
The Euro-Med Monitor has issued a warning regarding the serious threat to Safiya’s life, highlighting a troubling pattern of targeted killings and fatalities under torture that have previously afflicted other medical professionals.
Euro-Med has reported that it has collected testimonies suggesting Israeli forces physically assaulted Abu Safiya following their incursion into the heavily damaged Kamal Adwan Hospital.
According to reports from a non-governmental organization, the Israeli military relocated Dr. Abu Safiya to a field interrogation center located in the Al-Fakhura region of Jabalia Refugee Camp. During this time, he was allegedly compelled to remove his clothing and endured severe physical assault, including being whipped with a thick wire.
Subsequent to his initial relocation to an undisclosed venue, he was later transferred to the Sde Teyman military installation.
The Euro-Med Monitor has reported that recent accounts from released detainees at Israel’s Sde Teyman military camp indicate that Dr. Abu Safiya endured severe torture, resulting in a marked decline in his health condition.
The organization has voiced grave apprehensions regarding the potential execution of Dr. Abu Safiya while in custody. This concern arises following the death of Dr. Adnan Al-Bursh, the head of orthopedics at al-Shifa Hospital, who was reportedly tortured to death by Israeli forces in April 2024.
The Euro-Med Monitor has issued a warning regarding the “grave consequences” of Israel’s denial concerning the detention of Dr. Abu Safiya. The Israeli authorities have claimed that they have “no indication” of his arrest or alleged torture. Euro-Med Monitor argues that this stance signifies a “blatant disregard for binding legal standards.”
The statement urged prompt international action to secure the release of Dr. Abu Safiya, emphasizing the need to safeguard his basic rights, including his right to life, physical safety, and dignity.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged the United States government to “act swiftly” to ensure the release of Dr. Abu Safiya.
The Muslim advocacy organization has called on the Biden administration, which it accuses of being an active partner in what it describes as “Israel’s genocide,” to take measures to halt what they claim is the systematic targeting of hospitals and medical personnel in Gaza by the far-right Israeli government.
In a recent statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) accused Israel of systematically targeting medical infrastructure, inflicting daily casualties on Palestinian civilians, and enforcing widespread starvation across Gaza. CAIR characterized these actions as components of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
In a recent post on the social media platform X, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concerns, noting that the organization has not received any information regarding the safety and well-being of Dr. Abu Safiya.
He further called on Israel to secure his release, emphasizing the urgent need for an end to assaults on hospitals and medical personnel.
On December 28, Israeli airstrikes targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital, resulting in the deaths of approximately 50 individuals, including healthcare personnel, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Reports also indicate that the remaining individuals at the hospital were taken by Israeli forces.
Dr. Abu Safiya, aged 51, has reportedly been detained by the Israeli military for questioning in connection with alleged affiliations to the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.
