Video from a court in Jerusalem shows Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya appearing by video link and attempting to speak with his lawyer before Israeli court security blocked the screen and cut the connection, preventing journalists from filming.
His attorney repeatedly told the court he could neither see nor hear Abu Safiya after the video feed was cut, saying his captors had “turned off the camera,” further fueling concerns over the imprisoned Gaza doctor’s treatment after he appeared emaciated and bore apparent signs of physical abuse.
Just in: A video from inside a court in occupied Jerusalem shows Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya appearing via video link and attempting to speak with his attorney before Israeli court security blocked the screen and terminated the call, preventing journalists from filming the exchange or the video appearance.
I listened carefully to what the attorney was saying to Dr. Abu Safiya. It appeared that Dr. Abu Safiya could not hear him. The attorney repeatedly stated that he could neither see nor hear Dr. Abu Safiya after his “captors turned off the camera.” He also informed him that some people were present in the courtroom to show their support and that they were waiting for the judge to arrive so that he could be brought back on screen before the court addressed the appeal.
This is Israel’s democracy. Dr. Abu Safiya has been subjected to starvation, abuse, and cruel torture, and this latest development only adds to concerns about the conditions he has endured and the lack of public scrutiny surrounding his case.