Israel releases Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital chief, sparking fury from lawmakers

Israeli officials released Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital chief from prison, seemingly without charge, seven months after he was accused of working with Hamas, sparking outrage after officials suggested he was freed due to a prison cell shortage.

Mohammad Abu Salmiya, who was arrested in November amid a controversial raid at Gaza City’s largest hospital complex, was one of about 50 Palestinians released from Israeli custody and brought back to Gaza on Monday, the Times of Israel reports.

Salmiya’s release triggered instant backlash against Israeli intelligence officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war.

Right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on the government to oust Shin Bet intelligence director Ronen Bar following the agency’s claim that it was forced to send prisoners back to Gaza due to a lack of space in Israeli jails.

“The release of the director of the Shifa hospital in Gaza along with dozens of other terrorists is security negligence,” Gvir wrote on X.

Israel’s Prison Service also disputed Shin Bets claims and said Salmiya was “not released due to a shortage of detention space.”

Former war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, who resigned last month over the handling of the war, also called for Bar’s resignation and questioned if Israel could go forward with its current leadership.

“Those who do not know how to take responsibility and manage, cannot lead us in the most difficult campaign we have ever known,” Gantz said in a statement.

Netanyahu’s office denied any involvement in Salmiya being let go, saying his release from the Nafha Prison came following discussions at the High Court.

Avi Marciano, whose daughter Noa was kidnapped from Nahal Oz base on Oct. 7 and killed inside the al-Shifa hospital, gave perhaps the strongest condemnation of the prisoners’ release.

“Noa was abandoned before October 7 when they didn’t listen to her. She was abandoned on October 7 when they didn’t come to save her,” he wrote on Facebook. “She was abandoned after that when they didn’t do enough to return 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,” he added. “I’m sorry, my girl, that you continue to be neglected.”

Following the outcry, Netanyahu’s office and Shin Bet said an investigation was open into Salmiya’s release, even after the agency had determined that his freedom would not pose a significant threat to the Jewish state.

Salmiya, whose whereabouts had been unknown since his arrest, claimed he was regularly tortured and denied access to a lawyer after Israel arrested him under suspicion that he helped Hamas terrorists use the al-Shifa hospital as an operations center, according to the al-Quds media network, which has been accused of having ties to the terror group.  

“The prison situation is tragic and very difficult, and there must be a decisive word from the resistance and the Arab peoples for the freedom of the prisoners,” Salmiyatold Palestinian media.

Israeli officials did not elaborate on the full details of Salmiya’s release.

The IDF raided al-Shifa’s hospital complex in November, uncovering a large weapons cache and combat gear throughout the medical facility.

Despite evidence of Hamas’ activity and presence at the hospital, the Israeli military has not provided definitive proof that the terror group had an operations base underneath the hospital that was connected to its sprawling tunnel system.

The infighting among Israeli officials over the release came as Hamas launched one of its largest rocket barrages against the Jewish state in months, sending at least 20 missiles hurtling towards border communities, according to the IDF.

Several of the rockets were shot down by Israel’s air defense system, with other missiles falling inside southern Israel, the IDF said.

No injuries were reported as a result of Monday’s strike, with the IDF launching a retaliatory attack in Khan Younis to take out the rocket launchers used in the assault.