Israel frees Al-Shifa Hospital director after 7-month detention
Sparking political outrage

WORLD  01 July 2024 - 15:03

The Israeli military has released Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, after more than seven months of detention following a military operation at the hospital last November.

Abu Salmiya was among 50 Palestinians released along the eastern border of central and southern Gaza on July 1, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The released individuals were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Abu Salmiya, who was detained on November 23 along with other medical staff while traveling through Salah al-Din Street, described the prisoners' conditions as "tragic and unprecedented in Palestinian history," citing severe food shortages and physical humiliation. He called for decisive action to free all prisoners from Israeli jails, noting the unparalleled hardships faced by detainees since the Nakba.

He emphasized that the Israeli occupation arrests everyone, and medical staff have died in Israeli prisons due to torture and lack of medical care, highlighting the enemy's cruelty towards prisoners and medical personnel.

The release of Abu Salmiya has sparked outrage among ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli called the release "intolerable" and demanded accountability for the decision, which he claimed did not pass through the government or Cabinet.

Other ministers expressed their anger in a government WhatsApp group, with Settlement Minister Orit Strock demanding a government meeting and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir describing the release as "security negligence." Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon called for new security leadership, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's office stated he was unaware of the release decision.

Caliber.Az