Jerusalem: The son of detained Palestinian pediatrician Hussam Abu Safiya stated Thursday that his father showed visible signs of torture and deteriorating health during his latest appearance before an Israeli court.
According to Anadolu Agency, Elias Abu Safiya expressed the family's shock after witnessing the Gaza hospital director appear via video link from inside an Israeli prison during a hearing before Israel's Supreme Court. This marked the first time the family had seen him in months. Elias described the experience as haunting, noting that signs of torture were evident on his father's face and a skin disease appeared to have spread to his hands. The family had hoped the appearance would provide some reassurance about Abu Safiya's condition, but it instead highlighted the scale of his suffering.
Elias described the overwhelming shock felt by the family, recounting moments of silence turned to tears as they processed his father's condition. He voiced concerns about the extent of his father's suffering, noting that visible marks likely represent only a fraction of what Abu Safiya endures behind bars. Elias emphasized the family's helplessness, stating that the image of his father was not just another prisoner photo but a humanitarian plea from a man who devoted his life to helping others.
Abu Safiya's public appearance on Wednesday was his first in over a year. During the Supreme Court hearing, he demanded his release, describing his detention as unjust and arbitrary, according to his lawyer, Nasser Abu Odeh. The court postponed a decision on whether his detention would continue. Abu Safiya, formerly the director of Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital, was detained by Israeli forces on December 27, 2024, after troops stormed the hospital. Rights groups and lawyers have reported severe weight loss, skin infections, and medical neglect during his detention.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have reported abuse and mistreatment of Abu Safiya in Israeli custody. Palestinian and Israeli rights groups indicate around 9,500 Palestinians are in Israeli prisons, where they face torture, starvation, and medical neglect leading to deaths of dozens of prisoners. Since October 2023, Israel's war in Gaza has resulted in nearly 73,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries to more than 173,000 people, primarily women and children. Despite a ceasefire in effect since last October, the Israeli army has continued near-daily attacks, resulting in 981 Palestinian deaths and 3,104 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.