Scene of devastation in Gaza.
– Photo : UNICEF
Expansion
Mohammad Abu Salmiya, head of the Gaza Strip’s largest Al-Shifa hospital, was released on Monday along with dozens of Palestinians after more than seven months in detention and returned to Gaza for treatment. After being released from detention, hospital director Salmiya expressed his anguish over the atrocities committed by Israel. Salmiya said that many prisoners in interrogation centers died due to lack of food and medicine. For two months, no prisoner ate more than a loaf of bread a day.
According to Abu Salmiya, he and other prisoners were taken into custody after Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7. He said that during this time they had to undergo severe torture in Israeli jails. The prisoners had to face physical and psychological humiliation.
According to Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency, it opposed the release of terrorists who took part in attacks on Israeli civilians. The agency said it was therefore decided to release a number of Gaza detainees who represent a lesser threat.
However, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted on Twitter that Abu Salmiya’s release was a security breach along with that of dozens of other terrorists. Abu Salmiya was detained by the Israeli army during one of several raids on al-Shifa.