A leading human rights organization has accused the Israeli regime of failing to answer critical questions about the condition of a prominent Palestinian physician detained from the Gaza Strip, warning that his life may be at serious risk.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said the Israeli authorities' response to a legal petition seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors imprisoned after being abducted from Gaza failed to address alarming concerns surrounding Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

According to PHR, Israeli officials claimed there was no indication that Dr. Abu Safiya's life was in danger. However, they did not disclose whether he had undergone any medical examinations, when such examinations were allegedly conducted, what the findings were, or on what basis they concluded that his condition was not life-threatening.

The organization said the response amounted to an attempt to dismiss mounting concerns without providing any verifiable evidence regarding the physician's health.

PHR also criticized Israeli authorities for ignoring grave allegations of torture and ill-treatment documented by Dr. Abu Safiya's lawyer, Nasser Odeh.

According to Odeh, Dr. Abu Safiya has suffered serious injuries to his head and neck while in Israeli custody. He has reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, repeated episodes of losing consciousness, and has expressed fears that his life is in imminent danger due to the conditions of his detention.

Despite these alarming claims, PHR said Israeli authorities have refused to allow an independent medical team to examine Dr. Abu Safiya or verify his physical condition.

The rights group called for an immediate independent medical examination and urgent judicial review of his detention, stressing that every detainee has the right to adequate medical treatment under international humanitarian and human rights law.

Dr. Abu Safiya was detained by Israeli forces during their military operations in northern Gaza, where hospitals have repeatedly come under attack amid the ongoing Israeli assault on the besieged enclave. His detention has sparked widespread condemnation from medical associations and human rights organizations, which have demanded transparency regarding his whereabouts, his health, and immediate access to independent medical care.

Human rights advocates warn that the continued refusal to permit outside medical access raises serious concerns over the treatment of Palestinian detainees held by Israeli authorities and reinforces calls for international intervention to ensure their safety and uphold their fundamental rights. (ILKHA)