Shifa director released from detention • Ben Gvir: "Security lawlessness"'

July 1, 2024   

Israel released from prison this morning (Monday) Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza, who was arrested in November, along with 54 other terrorists from the Gaza Strip. In a recording released after his release, Abu Salmiya is heard saying: "There are detainees in very difficult conditions in Israel, there are detainees who died in detention. The situation there is very, very difficult, international organizations need to come in and visit these detainees. There are detainees there who have lost 25 kilos." Abu Salmiya was arrested in November 2023, about 7 months ago, on his way south through the humanitarian corridor. Abu Salmiya was accused by the IDF and the security establishment that his hospital served as a 'terror infrastructure' for years and was used by terrorists. In recent months, many detainees have been quietly released to Gaza - due to a shortage of cells in Israeli prisons. The security establishment has not yet received a response regarding the release. Galant's office told Kan News: "The Minister of Defense was not aware of the decision to release the director of Shifa Hospital." Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said: "The decision to release the prisoners follows hearings in the High Court of Justice on a petition against holding prisoners in the Sde Yemen detention facility. The identity of the released prisoners is determined independently by security officials based on their professional considerations. The Prime Minister has instructed that an immediate investigation be conducted into the matter." In the WhatsApp group of government ministers, the ministers were furious - and harshly criticized the release of the director of Shifa Hospital. "It's time to send the head of the Shin Bet home," responded Minister Ben Gvir. "He does what he wants. And Galant is on top of it. They are putting a stop to the cabinet and the government. He runs an independent policy. He does what he wants and in the discussions he became a terrorist officer. It's crowded for them, right? It's not good for them, but he's supposed to take care of their conditions??" Minister Amichai Shikli wondered: "Can we get some clarification, Yoav Galant, why is this man who murdered our hostages in the hospital and operated the Hamas headquarters released?" Minister Orit Stork wrote to the government secretary: "It would be unthinkable to carry out such a move without a government meeting! If you asked for our consent for the hostage deal - for one, and even more so for the release of terrorists without any compensation. I demand that everything be stopped and a government meeting be convened." Communications Minister Kari added: "Israel needs a new security leadership. From the grassroots to the grassroots. A leadership that will be committed to the spirit and heroism of the fighters, just as the prime minister is committed to it. And it would have been better if it had been one hour earlier." Minister Moshe Arbel asked Ben Gvir: "I know this is not the forum and everything is already leaking, unfortunately, but only in April did we approve a cross-cutting cut in favor of almost half a billion shekels for additional detention places that apparently were not implemented. Where is your responsibility in this matter?" Ben Gvir replied: "We immediately added 500 places and are building wings. True, they are crowded right now, but they are not being released because they are crowded or they are in tents. It is enough to be nice." Minister Kari responded: "With all due respect, releasing terrorists due to 'lack of space' is nothing more than a poor excuse." Minister Margi added: "The director of Shifa Hospital will probably be eliminated in Gaza by Hamas. And the one who understands will understand, I hope that besides candles, they have stuck a few other things in him.".

The commander of the Al-Shifa Hospital terrorist base, terrorist Muhammad Abu Salmiya, was released back to Gaza.
In his release interview, he incites against Israel and strengthens the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.
I'm out of words.. pic.twitter.com/vTKPPOT1JL

— News Buzz (@1717Bazz) July 1, 2024

The release was also criticized on social media and in the political system. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked the move. "The release of the director of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza along with dozens of other terrorists is a security lawlessness. It is time for the prime minister to stop Galant and the head of the Shin Bet from conducting an independent policy that contradicts the position of the cabinet and the government." Minister Amichai Shikli also tweeted: "The release of the director of the Shifa Hospital, in whose beds our people were tortured and murdered and who served as a Hamas base, without any compensation is unbearable. This decision did not pass either the government or the cabinet - and whoever is behind it must be held accountable for a negligent decision that is harmful to Israel's security." Yisrael Beiteinu Party Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman wrote in response to the release of the director of the Shifa Hospital: "We were witness to discovering that the director of the Shifa Hospital is not a doctor, he is a Mengele doctor. The decision to release him is a moral, security and ethical violation." Families of the abductees from the Tikva Forum responded: "While our loved ones were being held captive by Hamas, Israel released the master murderer and Hamas collaborator, the director of Shifa Hospital, the one who hid Hamas terror nests, including weapons and bunkers, where Israeli abductees were also murdered under his watchful eyes. Instead of using him as a bargaining chip, Israel is releasing him along with dozens of other 'uninvolved' people." The parents of Noa Marciano, whose body was recovered from the Shifa area and murdered inside the hospital, also attacked the decision: "Noa was disrespected before October 7, by not listening to her. She was disrespected on October 7 when they didn't come to save her. She was disrespected afterwards when they didn't do enough to bring her home alive. And now, seven months after we buried her, the State of Israel decides to release those who are directly or indirectly responsible for her murder." In November, the IDF and Shin Bet announced that "the Hamas terrorist organization utilized many resources, including electricity, to maintain the tunneling system it built under the hospital. In addition, Hamas stored many weapons in and around the hospital." The statement also emphasized that after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, the organization used the hospital as a shelter for its terrorists and even transferred Israeli hostages who were kidnapped there on the day of the massacre. The IDF also mentioned that a pathology report confirmed that the murder of Corporal Noa Marciano was committed on hospital grounds.