After months of detention by Israeli Occupation authorities, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, was finally released. His detention began in November 2023 during an “Israeli” military raid on the hospital. Along with approximately 50 other detainees, including medical staff and patients, he was released to his home in Deir al-Balah. Abu Salmiya recounted the severe mistreatment and torture endured by prisoners in Israeli Occupation prisons. The lack of basic rights, inadequate medical care, and food were among the grievances he highlighted.
Despite facing allegations that the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center, no evidence was provided to support this claim. Abu Salmiya’s release sparked outrage in “Israel” with government officials expressing security concerns. The decision was criticized as a security compromise, eliciting broader tensions within “Israeli” politics regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees.
The Shin Bet defended the release citing overcrowded prison conditions as a reason. The release raised questions about the management of security policies and highlighted the ongoing human rights concerns surrounding Palestinian detainees.