Israel Releases 50 Palestinian Prisoners, Including Gaza Hospital Director

About 50 Palestinian prisoners, including the director of Gaza’s largest hospital, were released on Monday during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, confirmed Israeli sources.

The prisoners were reportedly freed from various facilities, including the Sde Teiman military detention camp in the south, which is facing overcrowding.

Mohammed Abu Selmia, head of Al Shifa Hospital, was among those released. He was detained by Israeli forces in November 2023 while traveling south from Gaza City following an Israeli military raid on the hospital.

Widely circulated video footage shows Abu Selmia near a Red Crescent vehicle, being warmly welcomed back in Gaza. In the video, Abu Selmia said, “The prisoners are enduring very difficult conditions, including a lack of food and water and physical humiliation.” He also called for the release of all Palestinian prisoners, citing harsh detention conditions and the deaths of several medical staff members due to torture and lack of medical care.

Israel raided Al Shifa hospital twice, in November 2023 and April, alleging it served as a Hamas headquarters. These actions drew widespread international criticism.

Abu Selmia’s release has sparked controversy in Israel. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, for approving the release and called for the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also criticized the government, saying, “The news this morning and the chaos in the government … is a direct continuation of the recklessness and dysfunction of the Israeli government, which is causing damage to the security of Israel’s citizens.”

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the release followed an ongoing Supreme Court hearing where human rights groups are challenging the harsh incarceration conditions.