Mohamed Abu Salmiyadirector of Al Shifa Hospital, the largest in the Gaza Strip, was released this Monday by Israel along with 49 other Palestinians, more than seven months after his arrest following the assault launched by the Israeli Army against the medical center in November 2023.

Abu Salmeya was detained on November 23 for interrogation for the “terrorist activities” of the Islamist organization Hamas at the clinic after the discovery of one of its tunnels under the hospital.

After his release, the director of the center has assured that “Hundreds of Palestinian medical workers” have been attacked by Israel. He also denounced that “several prisoners have fallen as martyrs due to torture” in statements to the newspaper ‘Filastin’.

“Prisoners suffer tragic conditions due to lack of food and water and the insults they receive.“, he added. He has also assured that his plan is rebuild the hospitaldestroyed last November.

Abu Salmeya was arrested on November 23 for questioning over the Islamist organization Hamas’s “terrorist activities” at the clinic after one of its tunnels was discovered under the hospital.

Another of those released, Faraj Al Samuni, has denounced that the detainees suffer “unbearable” conditions and circumstances in statements to the Palestinian agency ‘Wafa’.

The release of Abu Salmiya has been harshly criticized by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has called it “negligence at the security level“.

“The time has come for Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) to prevent Gallant (Defense Minister) and the head of the Shin Bet from pursuing policies that are independent and contrary to the position of the cabinet and the government,” added Ben Gvir.