New information provided by lawyer Nasser Odeh—the legal counsel and representative of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital—has revealed a critical deterioration in the doctor's health status after he was transferred to the "Rakefet" underground interrogation section inside the Nitzan (Ramla) Prison.

The Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) association, alongside his lawyer, has demanded his immediate transfer from this section and requested that a judge be urgently permitted to visit him to closely assess his condition before it is too late.

Nasser Odeh and PHR warned that Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, faces an imminent danger to his life. This warning follows new information received by the association after a visit conducted by his lawyer, Nasser Odeh, on July 2nd in the "Rakefet" section inside the Ramla "Nitzan" Prison.

According to the affidavit submitted by attorney Odeh, Dr. Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting with his hands and feet bound, surrounded by a group of masked prison guards. Recent and severe injuries and bruises were visible on his body—specifically on his head, around his eyes, and on his ears and neck—to the extent that his lawyer faced difficulty recognizing him.

During the visit, Dr. Abu Safiya experienced difficulty breathing and speaking continuously. He appeared extremely weak, was unable to sit steadily without losing his balance, and seemed on the verge of losing consciousness on several occasions.

Lawyer Odeh stated that the doctor appeared in a state of extreme fear and psychological exhaustion, and was hesitant to speak freely out of fear of punishment and abuse. Based on his direct observations, Odeh concluded that Dr. Abu Safiya faces an immediate danger to his life.

Dr. Abu Safiya told his lawyer that shortly after an appeal hearing held at the "Israeli Supreme Court", and while he was being held in solitary confinement at "Ganot" Prison, four or five prison guards entered his cell and assaulted him, beating him across his entire body. He stated that they used a hammer and batons during the assault.

He added that since being transferred to "Rakefet" prison, he has been subjected to daily violence and beatings, has lost consciousness several times, and has not received appropriate medical treatment.

He also informed his lawyer that he fears for his life, saying: "This is the last time you will see me… They brought me here to kill me… I do not see myself surviving… This is the end."

Following the visit, attorney Nasser Odeh made an urgent appeal to the "Israeli Prison Service", demanding a halt to the assaults against Dr. Abu Safiya, his immediate transfer from the prison where he is currently held to another location, and the provision of full medical treatment, while holding the prison administration fully responsible for his life.

Simultaneously, PHR issued urgent appeals to the Attorney General, the Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the Public Defense, and the Prison Service. The association demanded an immediate visit to Dr. Abu Safiya by an official body independent of the prison service, and permission for an independent medical examination, given the serious concerns for his life.

Dr. Abu Safiya has been detained by Israel since December 27, 2024, under the "Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law," without any charges being brought against him and without the initiation of any criminal proceedings. After the Beersheba District Court extended his detention for an additional six months, he filed an appeal with the Supreme Court; however, the appeal was rejected last month on June 10, 2026.

In tandem with this, the Physicians for Human Rights organization filed a petition with the High Court of Justice on April 30, 2026, demanding his release along with other physicians detained by Israel.

Until early June, Dr. Abu Safiya was held in "Ketziot" Prison. Shortly after the appeal and petition were submitted to the Supreme Court to demand his release, he was transferred to solitary confinement in "Ganot" Prison, and was subsequently transferred last week (June 24, 2026) to the "Rakefet" section inside "Nitzan" Prison. According to information possessed by the organization and his lawyer's testimony, the severe escalation in assaults and acts of torture against him—which led to a sharp deterioration in his physical and psychological condition—occurred shortly after these legal proceedings began.

The "Rakefet" section is a secret underground unit designated for interrogation and detention inside "Nitzan" Prison. Serious allegations and testimonies regarding the use of violence and abuse against detainees held there have been published previously.

Physicians for Human Rights warns that any delay in intervention, given Dr. Abu Safiya's health condition and the information provided by his lawyer, could place his life in real danger. The organization stated that keeping Dr. Abu Safiya and other doctors and medical staff under absolute Israeli control, without external oversight, puts them at risk of death at any moment. The organization demands an independent and immediate investigation into their detention conditions and the torture they are subjected to, stressing the need to hold the relevant authorities accountable for any harm that befalls detainees under their responsibility and custody.

In light of all the above, Physicians for Human Rights renews its demand for the release of Dr. Abu Safiya and other doctors detained without charge or trial.

Attorney Nasser Odeh, counsel for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, stated: "I have visited Dr. Abu Safiya several times since his arrest, but the person I saw in the last visit was not the person I knew before. His physical and psychological condition, the injuries I saw on his body, and what he told me during the visit leave no room for doubt: he faces an imminent danger to his life; he must be removed immediately from 'Rakefet' prison and an independent, urgent examination of his condition must be permitted."

Naji Abbas, Director of the Prisoners and Detainees Department at the Physicians for Human Rights association, said: "The information we received raises grave and immediate concern for the life of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The testimony of attorney Nasser Odeh is among the most shocking testimonies we have heard since the beginning of the war: a man detained without charge tells his lawyer that he believes they will kill him, after arriving at the visit injured, suffering from breathing difficulties, and on the verge of losing consciousness. The sharp deterioration in his condition began after he challenged his continued detention before the courts, and this sequence of events warrants an immediate and independent investigation. When someone is in state custody, the state bears full responsibility for their safety, health, and life. If the authorities do not intervene immediately, there is a real fear that we will not see Dr. Abu Safiya alive again. We demand urgent action before it is too late."