Liverpool: Pax Christi joins medics in vigil for Palestinian paediatrician Dr Abu Safiya

Vigil members outside BBC Radio Merseyside

Source: Pax Christi

Pax Christi on Merseyside and Health Workers for Palestine organised a vigil for the Palestinian paediatrician Dr Abu Safiya outside BBC Radio Merseyside in Liverpool on 24 September. Dr Safiya has now been held in an Israeli detention facility since the end of 2024 without charge.

His son Elias has reported on the deteriorating health of his father who has been subject to routine beatings, sleep deprivation, inadequate nutrition and denial of medical treatment. Israeli detention facilities are notorious in their treatment of detainees, contravening Article 5 'Noone shall be subjected to torture, or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'.

Signatures were collected calling for Dr Safiya's release and immediate medical care. Passersby and the public were keen to support this appeal for the paediatrician, who has now become an international symbol of healthcare workers arbitrarily detained, killed in detention or disappeared without trace.

Reading from a statement issued by Healthcare workers watch in April this year Dr Jane Kevern said: '83 healthcare workers have been confirmed to currently be in Israeli detention - between them spending a total of 55, 646 days, whilst averaging 149 to 887 days individually. This includes eight from the West Bank and 75 from the Gaza Strip."

Janette Harper for Pax Christi said that signatures for the open letter are ongoing. Vigils will continue until Dr Safiya and all detained in Israeli prisons are free.