Several Israeli political figures have slammed the release of Palestinian detainees held in Israel.
Early On Monday, July 1, 2024, 55 prisoners, including Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the Head of al-Shifa Hospital, were released.
Unconfirmed reports claimed that Israel released the prisoners to free up space in its jails.
Later, the Israel Prison Service denied that Abu Salmiya was released due to lack of space in the country’s jails.
Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich called the release of the Director of al-Shifa Hospital “a scandal and a major failure.”
“I appealed to the Prime Minister, demanding an immediate investigation into this failure and to demand answers from all those responsible without exception in order to ensure that nothing of this kind will happen again.”
Bezalel Smotrich
Far-right Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir branded the move as “security negligence.”
Former war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz also said that whoever ordered their release should be dismissed.
Additionally, Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid criticised the government over the release of the al-Shifa Hospital Head.
“This morning’s news and the chaos in the government over the release of the director of al-Shifa Hospital is a direct continuation of the lawlessness and dysfunction of the Israeli government that damages the security of Israel’s citizens,” Lapid said on X.
“The Defence Minister [says he] did not know, the National Security Minister [says he] was not involved – [an] exchange of accusations. Everything is leaked. This is what moral and functional disintegration looks like.”
Yair Lapid
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an immediate inquiry into the release of Palestinian prisoners from Gaza, including the director of al-Shifa Hospital Muhammad Abu Salmiya, his office disclosed.
Speaking shortly after his return to Gaza, al-Shifa Hospital Director, Muhammad Abu Salmiya asserted that Palestinian prisoners in Israel’s prisons were facing daily abuse.
Abu Salmiya was arrested amid claims by the Israeli military that Hamas was using al-Shifa Hospital as a base. The medical chief said no charge had ever been laid against him.
Freed after more than seven months of custody, he said at a news conference in Gaza that detainees endured “daily physical and psychological humiliation” in captivity.
“Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars. There was almost daily torture. Cells are broken into and prisoners are beaten.”
Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya
Medical staff were responsible for abuse and neglect too, he said, with some detainees’ limbs amputated due to poor medical care.
The captives were also severely underfed while in custody, he added, surviving on nothing more than a loaf of bread per day for two months.
“All of them lost at least 30kg (66lb),” he said.
Upon their release, most of the released detainees were taken for medical checkups at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, Hamas stated that the condition of the prisoners released today and their testimony “confirm the criminal behaviour of the [Israeli] occupation.”
“The international community and the United Nations must protect detainees,” it said in a statement.
Hamas also called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to reveal the fate of thousands of Palestinian detainees taken by Israeli forces from Gaza, which it alleged are being hidden in “inhumane conditions.”
Monitor Says Released Doctor’s Life In Danger After Israeli Incitement
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor expressed fear for the life of Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya “after a storm of violent reactions in the Israeli government regarding his release.”
The rights group said in a statement that the doctor’s life could be in “serious danger” and warned of “the possibility of re-arresting him or targeting him and killing him directly and deliberately.”
“The release of the director of the medical complex and his colleagues without charges is evidence that the pretexts for storming and destroying the hospital are flimsy arguments,” it said.
The rights group added, “We hold Israel fully responsible for the doctor’s life after launching a wide political and media campaign against him.”
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