Israel continues its systematic torture of Palestinian healthcare workers Dear Supporter, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) expresses grave concern regarding the deteriorating condition of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza. Since December 27, 2024, Dr. Abu Safiya has been facing brutal systematic torture in Israeli jails, including arbitrary beatings, starvation, and prolonged solitary confinement. Prior to his unjust imprisonment, Dr. Abu Safiya endured personal tragedy. His son, Ibrahim, was killed on October 25, 2024, after the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) bombed the area where Ibrahim and other Palestinians were sheltering. Even after the murder of Ibrahim, Dr. Abu Safiya resumed his duties and provided life-saving medical treatment to the people of Gaza. The IOF repeatedly pressured him to evacuate from the Kamal Adwan Hospital. However, Dr. Abu Safiya took a strong moral stance and refused to leave his dying patients. Enraged by his steadfastness, the IOF entered the Kamal Adwan Hospital and kidnapped him. TAKE ACTION: CALL ON CONGRESS TO DEMAND DR. ABU SAFIYA’S IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Since then, Dr. Abu Safiya has suffered from cruel and inhumane torture inside Israeli prisons. A few days ago, he told his attorney, Nasser Odeh: “This is the last time you’ll see me, they brought me here to kill me.” In conjunction with this barbaric torture, the Israeli Prison System (IPS) has routinely denied the Red Cross access to Dr. Abu Safiya and the other 84 detained healthcare workers from Gaza, depriving them of life-saving medical care. Israel has justified their imprisonment under baseless claims of being an “unlawful combatant.” In addition to this smear, Israel has either damaged or destroyed over 94% of the hospitals in Gaza since the genocide started. The systematic destruction of hospitals, along with designating healthcare workers from Gaza as "combatants,” is an attempt to justify Israel’s torture of prisoners, collapse Gaza’s healthcare system, and accelerate Israel’s plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza of all Palestinians. We unequivocally condemn the illegal, arbitrary detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and the 84 other Gaza healthcare workers. We call upon the Trump administration and Congress to pressure the Israeli government to immediately release him and all other illegally detained prisoners. Unwillingness to pressure Israel into releasing these innocent prisoners is a choice, one which violates both U.S. and international law. The world cannot stand idly by and watch Israel systematically kill Dr. Abu Safiya while facilitating a genocide in Gaza. Take action now. In solidarity, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action |
