Abducted Gaza doctor suffering from 'scabies and boils' in Israeli detention

Prominent doctor Hussam Abu Safiya and his nephew are being kept in appalling conditions in Israeli detention, his lawyer said after a rare visit.

Gheed Kassem said Abu Safiya and his nephew Hussam Zaher were "exposed to sunlight for only thirty minutes a month, while scabies and boils ravage their bodies, and they remain in the same clothes."

"As for bathing, it lasts only two minutes, and they have each lost a third of their body weight. They are in dire need of dermatologists and medicines to treat the widespread skin diseases and infections," said Kassem.

He also relayed a message from Abu Safiya, who was kidnapped by Israeli forces in Gaza in December.

“I entered in the name of humanity, and I will leave in the name of humanity. I am the one who was abducted from inside the hospital. We will remain on our land and continue to provide healthcare services to the people, God willing, even from a tent," he said.