Palestinian physician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, has become a new symbol of the suffering endured by Palestinian medical personnel in Israeli prisons, as human rights organizations have issued escalating warnings that his life is in imminent danger due to alleged torture and medical neglect while in detention.

The doctor who devoted himself to saving the lives of the wounded and sick throughout the war is now fighting for his own survival, amid growing fears that his health is rapidly deteriorating.

The Physicians for Human Rights association and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club have issued urgent warnings, stating that Dr. Abu Safiya's life is in "immediate and imminent danger" after he was transferred to the underground interrogation unit known as "Rakevet" at Nitzan Prison, a facility repeatedly associated with allegations of torture and ill-treatment.

Lawyer Nasser Odeh, who managed to visit Dr. Abu Safiya in early July 2026, described shocking conditions, saying he struggled to recognize his client because of the severe abuse he had allegedly endured.

According to the lawyer, Dr. Abu Safiya was shackled by both his hands and feet, with visible bruises and recent injuries to his head, face, eyes, ears, and neck. He was reportedly suffering from severe difficulty breathing and speaking, a significant loss of balance, and extreme exhaustion that left him on the verge of losing consciousness several times.

According to Dr. Abu Safiya's testimony, he has been subjected to daily assaults since being transferred to solitary confinement. He stated that five prison guards brutally beat him using hammers and batons, causing him to lose consciousness on several occasions. Despite his worsening condition, he said he has received no medical care or treatment.

In one of the most heartbreaking testimonies, the lawyer quoted Dr. Abu Safiya as saying: "This is the last time you will see me... They brought me here to kill me. I do not see myself leaving here alive... This is the end." These words reflect the profound despair the physician is reportedly experiencing in detention.

Human rights organizations indicate that the escalation in the alleged abuses against Dr. Abu Safiya followed legal petitions submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court seeking his release. He has remained in detention since 27 December 2024.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club described his treatment as "an attempted liquidation and slow assassination" inside Israeli prisons, saying it forms part of a broader policy targeting Palestinian medical professionals who continued to carry out their humanitarian duties throughout the war in the Gaza Strip.

The tragedy has extended beyond the prison walls. In a video message, Dr. Abu Safiya's son appeared in tears as he made an emotional appeal to international organizations and human rights institutions to intervene immediately and save his father's life before it is too late—a poignant scene reflecting the anguish of a family awaiting news that could prove to be the last.

International voices have also joined the calls for his release. Italian Member of Parliament Stefania Ascari stated that the Palestinian physician is facing grave danger to his life and is being subjected to torture in Israeli prisons. She questioned how those she described as "war criminals" remain free while a doctor who dedicated his life to saving the wounded and the sick is being tortured.

Physicians for Human Rights has called for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya's immediate transfer out of the interrogation unit, access to an urgent and independent medical examination, and his release—as well as the release of all Palestinian doctors detained without charge or trial—warning that every passing hour could bring the world closer to another humanitarian catastrophe.

As the world continues to follow news of the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza from behind television screens, the fate of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya remains a genuine test of respect for international humanitarian law and of the international community's willingness to protect those who dedicated their lives to saving others before becoming victims in need of rescue themselves.