Release of detained al-Shifa hospital director sparks political row in Israel
A political row has broken out in Israel after about 50 Palestinian detainees from Gaza were released, including Muhammad Abu Salamiya, director of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. | Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right internal security minister described it as “security recklessness”. Haaretz reports that sources close to defense minister Yoav Gallant have said he was not aware that the release was planned, and that he was not involved. Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that he had ordered an immediate inquiry, but noted that “the decision to release the prisoners follows High Court hearings,” and that releases were determined “independently by security officials.” [...] Upon his release, speaking from Nasser hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis, Abu Salmiya said:
💬 All the Palestinian detainees are suffering. I left them in a very dire condition. My message is that their issue must be part of any negotiations until all the Palestinian detainees are released. Al-Shifa Hospital will be rebuilt and it will be once again a beacon of healthcare for all the Palestinians, not only Gazans. I will resume my duties as soon as it is feasible. ● Israel arrests everyone, including medical teams. There are prisoners who died from torture, and there are physicians and medical staff members who are still being held and in need of treatment. We are happy about the release but we left behind thousands who are enduring indescribable suffering.