Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is awaiting a report from the domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, regarding the release of a prominent Palestinian doctor, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, who was freed alongside 54 other prisoners. Abu Salmiya and other released prisoners have claimed they were tortured and abused while in Israeli jails.
The release of Abu Salmiya has caused anger in Tel Aviv, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling it “security negligence”. Netanyahu, facing pressure from hardline coalition partners, quickly ordered an investigation into the release, which he termed a “serious mistake and a moral failure”.
Shin Bet defended the release, stating that it was done to free up space in detention centers and that the released prisoners represented a lesser danger. However, Abu Salmiya and others have described the grim conditions and severe torture they endured while imprisoned, with some prisoners allegedly dying in interrogation centers.
The release of Abu Salmiya also brings attention to the devastation caused by Israeli raids and fighting in Gaza, particularly at the al-Shifa Hospital. Other medical institutions in Gaza have also suffered damage, raising concerns about access to medical care for the wounded and displaced population.
Hamas has denied using hospitals as a shield for its operations and called on international bodies to intervene and stop the alleged mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. The situation has sparked controversy and calls for accountability for the alleged abuse of prisoners.
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