The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office has warned that detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, is facing extremely severe health and humanitarian conditions inside Israel’s Rakevet Prison after repeated assaults left him with fractures to his rib cage.
In a statement, the office said Abu Safiya was subjected on 27 July to the most violent prison crackdown since his detention, describing it as “the most difficult day of his life in prison”.
Prisoners were beaten with batons, subjected to electric shocks, sprayed with gas and fired upon with rubber bullets, while police dogs were also used to attack them, according to the statement.
Chronic Illnesses and Inadequate Medical Care
The office said Abu Safiya suffers from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure, as well as severe neck pain, a slipped disc, a hernia and vision problems.
He is also experiencing persistent dizziness and a rapid heartbeat, while the prison administration has reportedly provided only painkillers and blood pressure medication despite the seriousness of his condition.
The statement added that Abu Safiya was violently assaulted immediately after being transferred to Rakevet Prison in June, causing one of his ribs to fracture.
He also spent 21 days in solitary confinement under harsh conditions.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office held the Israeli authorities fully responsible for his life and called for urgent international intervention to secure his release and end the violations committed against Palestinian prisoners.
Rights Group Seeks Independent Medical Examination
Physicians for Human Rights Israel announced on Wednesday that it had filed a petition with the Administrative Court seeking to compel the Israeli Prison Service to allow an independent doctor appointed by the organisation to examine Abu Safiya.
The petition followed the deterioration of his health and repeated reports that he had been subjected to ill-treatment.
The organisation said the official medical file it received from the prison service documented an injury to Abu Safiya’s left eye, along with complaints of head and chest injuries and pain in his ribs.
It noted that the results of an X-ray examination were not included in his medical records.
According to the organisation, Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Nasser Ouda, reported after visiting his client that the detained doctor had injuries to his head, face, ears and neck.
He was also suffering from difficulty breathing and was unable to sit without collapsing. Abu Safiya later informed his lawyer that he had been beaten again inside the prison.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel said an independent medical examination was the only means of assessing his condition professionally and impartially.
It called on the court to hold an urgent hearing and order the Israeli Prison Service to allow the examination without delay.
The organisation also said it was continuing separate proceedings before the Israeli Supreme Court seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors from the Gaza Strip, including Abu Safiya, who are being held without charge or trial.
