Fr John Heagle: A prisoner of conscience is dying, and the world is silent
Link to article: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/55401
Fr John Heagle, coordinator of Priests Against Genocide USA, writes: Silence is not always golden. Often, it is simply complicity with injustice. This is certainly the case for Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a prisoner of conscience near death in an Israeli prison. Tragically, in the face of this war crime, most international government and religious leaders have chosen to remain silent. With this reflection, I want to join others in breaking the silence.
Dr Safiya is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and head of its neonatal unit. An outstanding paediatrician, he continued treating patients throughout the roughly 85-day siege by the Israeli military. He is now held in the Rakevet detention centre, an underground section beneath the Ayalon prison complex in Ramla, Israel.
As Israel’s war on Gaza marks 1,000 days since it began on October 8, 2023, the health personnel continue to bear the heaviest toll, with medical professionals facing persistent killings and arrests in what many refer to as a “health genocide.” Official Palestinian data show that more than 1,700 health care workers – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and other staff – have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023, while 362 others have been detained. According to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry on April 18, 2026, at least 83 health care workers remain in Israeli prisons.
Amnesty International has Dr. Hussam Abu Saflya on their writing list. The more signatures the more effective on getting his release.
https://amnesty.ca/urgent-actions/israel-release-pediatrician-and-hospital-director/
Is that the same Dr Hussam Abu Safiya of Kamal Adwan Hospital who is also an alleged Colonel in Hamas, who knew other Hamas operatives working in the hospital as Health Care staff, and who was aware that a Hamas military command centre was based in the hospital, who allegedly praised the 7th Oct 23 genocidal attack by Hamas military on Israel, notwithstanding that Hamas has the destruction of Israel and the genocide of its people at the core of its foundation charter? Is that the same Dr Hussam Abu Safiya?
https://x.com/i/status/2076293543425900548
(Ed: On the other hand, check this link for a counter argument: https://ngo-monitor.org/reports/the-campaign-to-whitewash-the-director-of-a-hamas-controlled-hospital/)
Israel must release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and all Palestinian medical personnel arbitrarily detained and adhere to international law, UN Commission of Inquiry says
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/israel-must-release-dr-hussam-abu-safiya-and-all-palestinian-medical?sub-site=HRC
The Commission observes that the reported conduct of the Israeli authorities towards Dr. Abu Safiya reflects a broader pattern of violations previously identified in the Commission’s reports. The Commission found that Israeli security forces deliberately killed, wounded, detained, and severely mistreated medical personnel, constituting the war crimes of wilful killing and torture and the crime against humanity of extermination.
The military operations against medical personnel were found to be part of a concerted policy to destroy the health-care system of Gaza. The Commission also found that the Israeli authorities committed the crime of genocide through the policy of targeting the healthcare system and medical professionals in Gaza since October 2023, intentionally forcing Palestinians to live without access to crucial medical care, consequently killing many and causing further irreparable harm which prevented their capacity and possibility to heal, recover and live.