Gaza doctor Abu Safiya given 'two spoonfuls of rice a day' in Israeli jail
A lawyer representing Palestinian Dr Hussam Abu Safiya has raised concerns over his deteriorating health and routine torture in Israeli detention, where inmates are given only two spoonfuls of rice a day.
In an interview with Arab48, published on Thursday, lawyer Gheed Kassem said that the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, located north of the Gaza Strip, had faced severe physical assault that resulted in bruising to his head, neck, rib cage, and back.
When Dr Abu Safiya requested medical assistance for complications stemming from the beatings, including an irregular heartbeat, his request was denied.
Medical neglect and abuse in Israeli-run prisons have been well-documented, with such practices reportedly intensifying since the events of 7 October 2023.
In early May, the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission said that sick Palestinian detainees faced "deliberate and systematic medical neglect," alongside hunger and torture negatively affecting their health conditions.
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The statement came after the death of 60-year-old prisoner Mohyee al-Din Fahmi Najem, who suffered from chronic illnesses and was denied proper medical treatment during his detention.
Abu Safiya, who remains in solitary confinement at the Ofer military prison - which houses 450 detainees from the Gaza Strip - weighs no more than 60 kilograms, according to his lawyer.
Additionally, Dr Abu Safiya is held in an underground cell that is completely isolated and receives no natural light.
"He knows nothing about the outside world, and he is still wearing winter clothes," Kassem explained.
"Prisoners inside Ofer prison endure incredibly harsh and catastrophic conditions," she added.
'He knows nothing about the outside world, and he is still wearing winter clothes'
- Gheed Kassem, Dr Abu Safiyah's lawyer
The lawyer described how Palestinians imprisoned there are allowed only two spoonfuls of rice a day, while both sugar and salt are completely banned "to prevent any rise in the happiness hormone, even a small one, from eating sugar".
"This is in addition to the frequent cell raids, the torture, and the constant searches that prisoners are subjected to."
The most recent case of torture and medical neglect in Israeli detention involves the death of 53-year-old Samir al-Rifai from Jenin.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission, Rifai died seven days after his arrest, raising the death toll of Palestinian prisoners who have died under Israeli detention since the beginning of the war on Gaza to 74.
The father of five had reportedly suffered from heart issues and needed intensive medical care. Sources suggest that his death resulted from ill-treatment and the severe conditions in prison, though no official reports have been released.
Lack of rights
Abu Safiya has been categorised as an "unlawful combatant" by Israeli authorities, despite him being a civilian doctor. This classification means there is no formal indictment against him.
"The designation of an unlawful combatant renders a prisoner without rights," Kassem said.
"Israeli law strips those with this designation of their natural human rights inside prisons."
The Kassem added that prison authorities also create "successive obstacles for lawyers," with each visit needing to be scheduled four months in advance. Even then, it could be cancelled.
Additionally, legal representatives are often left waiting for long stretches of time, and when their clients are finally brought in for the visit, they are often assaulted on the way as they are crawling on the ground in handcuffs.
"The interview is conducted under a microscope, under the eyes and ears of the jailers. If the jailers feel that the visit has boosted the prisoner’s morale, they assault him in revenge," she said.
Detainees are also subjected to constant psychological torture, Kassem added, including being exposed to graphic images and depressing news as well as being told false information about the death of loved ones.
"The first question every prisoner asks me is about their families and whether they are still alive," she said.
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