Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A demonstration was held in central Tokyo on Thursday to demand the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and for the protection of medical workers in Gaza.

Dr. Safiya is a Palestinian doctor and human rights defender who lives in Gaza. He is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

He consistently refused to evacuate the hospital as ordered by the Israeli military forces, as he did not want to abandon his patients. In October, an Israeli drone killed his son at the hospital’s entrance.

“I refused to leave the hospital and sacrifice my patients, so the army punished me by killing my son,” Dr. Safiya said. “I saw him die at the entrance gate; it was a great shock. I found a grave for him near one of the hospital’s walls so that he could stay close to me.”

After the Israeli army forcibly evacuated the hospital on December 27, Safiya was arrested, and the hospital was closed.

The World Health Organization reported that it had lost contact with Abu Safiya following the evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital. Numerous individuals and organizations have called for Safiya’s whereabouts to be shared and for his immediate release from detention.

Thursday’s protest was organized by the Japan Healthcare Workers for Palestine and took place outside Shinjuku Station, famed for being the busiest train station in the world.

The organizers said it was making “a joint demand across Japan for the release of Dr. Abu Safiya and the cessation of violence towards all medical workers, volunteers and transport and facilities.”

Featured speakers included Special UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, UNRWA Director of Health Dr. Seita and Dr. Nekozuka of the Hokkaido Palestine Medical Corps.