04:15The director of the Al-Shifa hospital Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya claimed his arrest had been 'purely political' - and made strong allegations of 'severe torture' at the hands of the Israeli military - as he and more than 50 others were released from detention on Monday.
“We were subjected to severe torture," he claimed. "I was beaten on the head more than once and bled more than once. There is almost daily torture in Israeli prisons. Prisoners’ rooms are stormed daily and they are severely beaten daily."
The Israeli prison service has not commented at time of publication. It has previously strongly denied similar allegations from other detainees. Both the UN high commissioner for human rights and Amnesty International have also expressed concerns about treatment of prisoners.
Salmiya was first detained in November as he attempted to evacuated the site through an IDF corridor, after Israeli forces claimed the hospital had been used as a Hamas 'command and control centre' - which medics and the militant group strongly denied. He was released without charge.
"The occupation did not charge me with any [crime], until I was brought to three or four trials, and in the last trial it was said that there is no charge against you and you are being held by us until further notice," he claimed. "This indicates that my arrest was for a purely political reason for the occupier."
He also pledged that the Al-Shifa facility would be rebuilt.
Subsequently, the release of Salmiya and others caused a huge row within the Israeli government, with Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir describing it as 'recklessness' and reports suggesting Defence Minister Yoav Galant was not aware of it.
Gallant's office claimed the "authority for incarcerating security prisoners and their release is under the Shin Bet and the Israel Prison Service," while Shin Bet, the country's internal security service, said the release was due to lack of space in Israeli jails. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it was launching an inquiry.
The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since October 7, when the militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people according to the Israeli side.
The Israeli army launched a large-scale campaign of air strikes and ground incursions, with at least 37,000 people killed and over 86,000 injured according to the Palestinian side at time of publication.
'Purely political' - Al-Shifa hospital director alleges 'severe, daily torture' as release sparks row within Israel's leadership
The director of the Al-Shifa hospital Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya claimed his arrest had been 'purely political' - and made strong allegations of 'severe torture' at the hands of the Israeli military - as he and more than 50 others were released from detention on Monday.
“We were subjected to severe torture," he claimed. "I was beaten on the head more than once and bled more than once. There is almost daily torture in Israeli prisons. Prisoners’ rooms are stormed daily and they are severely beaten daily."
The Israeli prison service has not commented at time of publication. It has previously strongly denied similar allegations from other detainees. Both the UN high commissioner for human rights and Amnesty International have also expressed concerns about treatment of prisoners.
Salmiya was first detained in November as he attempted to evacuated the site through an IDF corridor, after Israeli forces claimed the hospital had been used as a Hamas 'command and control centre' - which medics and the militant group strongly denied. He was released without charge.
"The occupation did not charge me with any [crime], until I was brought to three or four trials, and in the last trial it was said that there is no charge against you and you are being held by us until further notice," he claimed. "This indicates that my arrest was for a purely political reason for the occupier."
He also pledged that the Al-Shifa facility would be rebuilt.
Subsequently, the release of Salmiya and others caused a huge row within the Israeli government, with Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir describing it as 'recklessness' and reports suggesting Defence Minister Yoav Galant was not aware of it.
Gallant's office claimed the "authority for incarcerating security prisoners and their release is under the Shin Bet and the Israel Prison Service," while Shin Bet, the country's internal security service, said the release was due to lack of space in Israeli jails. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it was launching an inquiry.
The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since October 7, when the militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people according to the Israeli side.
The Israeli army launched a large-scale campaign of air strikes and ground incursions, with at least 37,000 people killed and over 86,000 injured according to the Palestinian side at time of publication.
The director of the Al-Shifa hospital Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya claimed his arrest had been 'purely political' - and made strong allegations of 'severe torture' at the hands of the Israeli military - as he and more than 50 others were released from detention on Monday.
“We were subjected to severe torture," he claimed. "I was beaten on the head more than once and bled more than once. There is almost daily torture in Israeli prisons. Prisoners’ rooms are stormed daily and they are severely beaten daily."
The Israeli prison service has not commented at time of publication. It has previously strongly denied similar allegations from other detainees. Both the UN high commissioner for human rights and Amnesty International have also expressed concerns about treatment of prisoners.
Salmiya was first detained in November as he attempted to evacuated the site through an IDF corridor, after Israeli forces claimed the hospital had been used as a Hamas 'command and control centre' - which medics and the militant group strongly denied. He was released without charge.
"The occupation did not charge me with any [crime], until I was brought to three or four trials, and in the last trial it was said that there is no charge against you and you are being held by us until further notice," he claimed. "This indicates that my arrest was for a purely political reason for the occupier."
He also pledged that the Al-Shifa facility would be rebuilt.
Subsequently, the release of Salmiya and others caused a huge row within the Israeli government, with Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir describing it as 'recklessness' and reports suggesting Defence Minister Yoav Galant was not aware of it.
Gallant's office claimed the "authority for incarcerating security prisoners and their release is under the Shin Bet and the Israel Prison Service," while Shin Bet, the country's internal security service, said the release was due to lack of space in Israeli jails. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it was launching an inquiry.
The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since October 7, when the militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people according to the Israeli side.
The Israeli army launched a large-scale campaign of air strikes and ground incursions, with at least 37,000 people killed and over 86,000 injured according to the Palestinian side at time of publication.