Controversy Surrounding Israeli Detention and Release of Gaza Hospital Chief

Israeli Detention and Release of Gaza Hospital Chief Sparks Controversy

Israel released Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, after over seven months of detention. Abu Salmiya was taken into custody in late November during an evacuation effort at the hospital, which was under siege by the Israeli military. The military detained him for questioning about Hamas operations at the hospital.

Abu Salmiya’s release has triggered contrasting reactions, both within and outside Israel. Human rights groups criticized his prolonged detention without charges as indicative of mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. In contrast, some Israeli officials condemned his release, attributing it to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the situation.

Following his release, Abu Salmiya, along with nearly 50 other Palestinian detainees, including doctors and health ministry staff, returned to Gaza. In a news conference at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, he revealed that they had endured severe torture, with injuries such as a broken finger and repeated beatings to the head. The Israeli Prison Service denied knowledge of Abu Salmiya’s claims, asserting that all detainees are held in accordance with the law.

The release of Abu Salmiya also exposed divisions between Israeli security forces and the political establishment. The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, criticized the government for failing to provide additional detention space to accommodate more arrests of “terrorists in Israel and the Gaza Strip.” Consequently, a certain number of detainees deemed to pose a lesser threat were released to make room for new detainees.