Israel confirms Gaza chief doctor is at West Bank military prison

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An Israeli rights organisation states that Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of a hospital in northern Gaza who went missing after being taken by Israeli troops during a raid two weeks ago, is currently being held in a well-known Israeli military prison located in the occupied West Bank, Ashraq Al-Awsat reported on January 13th.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said the Israeli military confirmed via email that Abu Safiya is being detained at Ofer Prison. According to Ran Yaron, a spokesman for PHRI,  a lawyer representing Abu Safiya’s family was informed that he would not be permitted to visit him until January 29th. The military had previously declined to provide information to the Associated Press regarding Abu Safiya’s whereabouts.

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Family members and colleagues have voiced their concerns about Abu Safiya’s safety following his detention, along with dozens of others, during a raid at Kamal Adwan Hospital on December 27th. Former prisoners have described difficult conditions at Ofer Prison, citing incidents of beatings, inadequate food provisions, and denial of medical treatment.

A notable Palestinian surgeon detained in a hospital raid in December 2023 died while in custody at Ofer Prison, the following April.

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The military accused Abu Safiya of being involved with Hamas, either through cooperation or direct work. It claims that Hamas fighters used the hospital as a base and sanctuary during Israel’s extended military campaign in the surrounding parts of northern Gaza. The military stated it arrested 240 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad during the hospital raid, although it has not provided supporting evidence.

Hospital staff dispute these allegations, and the Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 60 medical personnel were among those detained. Abu Safiya’s colleagues have noted his efforts in keeping Kamal Adwan Hospital operational despite an an approximate 85-day siege by Israeli forces starting in October.

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Abu Safiya became widely recognised for his regular video appeals, where he sought international assistance as Israeli strikes repeatedly targeted the hospital during the siege. One of his sons was killed in a drone strike by Israel during the siege, and Abu Safiya himself sustained injuries from shrapnel in a separate attack.

Naji Abbas, representing Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, stated that the prohibition on lawyer access to Abu Safiya “raises serious concerns about the treatment he is enduring in detention.”

Asharq Al-Awsat, AP

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