Israel released the head of Gaza’s largest hospital, who had been detained for more than seven months. In addition, dozens of Palestinian prisoners were also sent back to the besieged territory for treatment on Monday.
His release was confirmed on social media by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and by a medical source inside the Gaza Strip.
Al Shifa’s director, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, was detained in November.
The hospital where he worked has been largely reduced to rubble in a series of raids since Israel launched its assault on Gaza following Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7.
A medical source at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah told AFP that Salmiya and the other released detainees arrived back in Gaza from Israel, east of Khan Younis.
The source said five detainees were admitted to Al-Aqsa Hospital and others were sent to hospitals in Khan Younis.
An AFP correspondent in Deir al-Balah saw some detainees having emotional reunions with their families.
The Israeli military said it was “investigating” reports about the release of prisoners.
However, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed the release, posting on Twitter (formerly Twitter) that Salmiya’s release “along with dozens of other terrorists was a security lapse.”
He is a person who can never succeed in any way in his life. He is a person who is in love and in love with his father since he gave birth to a son and a daughter.
— Ian McIntyre (@itamarbengvir) July 1, 2024
Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals in the Gaza Strip as cover for military operations and infrastructure.
The activist group, which has ruled the region since 2007, denies the allegations.
In May, Palestinian rights groups said a senior surgeon at Al-Shifa died after being detained in an Israeli prison. The Israeli military said it was not aware of the death.
The war began with a Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli data.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 37,877 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)