Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, has been freed after seven months in detention. Upon his release, Dr Abu Salmiya accused Israeli prison staff of perpetrating both physical and mental abuse on the Palestinian prisoners.
During a press briefing at Khan Younis’ Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, he revealed the daily instances of violence the prisoners faced, involving batons and dogs being frequently used, and cells raided and inmates attacked.
Dr Abu Salmiya shared personal experiences of his abuse as well, stating he’d attained a broken finger and a head wound from a beating. He also claimed valuable necessities such as food and medicine were withheld from the prisoners. Because of this neglect, many had lost upwards of 30kg and underwent limb amputations. He noted that numerous inmates lost their lives in the interrogation centres.
Dr Abu Salmiya added that international humanitarian organisations were not granted the chance to inspect the prisons. He was among the several Palestinians who were released on Monday, with medical assessments being conducted upon their release at Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah hospitals.
The charges Dr Abu Salmiya raised were also brought up by other released prisoners. They reported an escalation in abuse and deteriorating conditions since the Hamas’ October 7th raid on southern Israel. Since the raid, the Israeli prison service has taken in over 5,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society, as reported by the Palestinian Authority news agency Wafa, alleged that prisoners face regular humiliation and are prevented from communicating with each other. They also cited instances of sexual violence and rape. An official from the West Bank prison monitor, Addameer, disclosed to Al-Jazeera that at least 40 individuals had died whilst in Israeli custody in the past eight months.
Doctors Abu Salmiya was among 53 other prisoners that were released, following his arrest last November when Israeli troops stormed, seized and evacuated the staff and patients of Al Shifa hospital. He was accused of facilitating Hamas to utilise the Gaza-based hospital, considered to be the largest and most sophisticated, as a critical command hub for launching attacks on Israeli forces.
Despite evidence showing that Hamas militants were operating from subterranean rooms, the allegations that Al Shifa was in fact providing shelter to the Hamas leaders were not substantiated by the information that was later discovered.
Following his questioning by Israel’s home intelligence service, Shin Bet, Dr Abu Salmiya underwent three trials without any charges being brought against him. Due to issues of lack of sufficient space in prison, Shin Bet authorised the release of the doctor along with other prisoners.
This decision was heavily criticised by the Prime Minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu. He expressed his discontent stating he was not apprised of the release and called the decision to free Dr Abu Salmiya a “serious error and an ethical failure”. He held Dr Abu Salmiya responsible since he was in charge of the hospital where it is believed Israeli hostages were held captive and tragically killed.