Head of Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital released after months of detention

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/01/israel-gaza-hamas-shifa-abu-salmiya/

Head of Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital released after months of detention

Pulled from a U.N. convoy, Mohamed Abu Salmiya’s detention bookended one of the most indelible chapters of Israel’s nine-month military operation in Gaza.

By Louisa Loveluck and Jennifer Hassan
July 1, 2024 at 5:53 a.m. EDT

The director of Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital was released from Israeli custody early Monday, apparently without charge, seven months after he was detained on accusations that he had been allowing Hamas militants to use the Palestinian enclave’s largest medical facility as a command center.

Mohamed Abu Salmiya was arrested from a U.N. convoy carrying wounded civilians away from heavy fighting in Gaza City during one of the most indelible chapters of Israel’s nine-month military operation in Gaza, as Israeli officials presented a controversial raid on the al-Shifa medical complex as a crucial war aim.

Abu Salmiya was arrested in November, after Israeli forces raided Gaza’s largest and most important hospital compound. The Israeli military had accused the medical director of allowing Hamas militants to use the complex as a command and control center.

A Washington Post analysis later found that evidence presented by the Israeli government fell short of supporting claims regarding the facility’s active use as a command hub.

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[ExciteBike66]

1. I'm sure the unarmed civilian was given a choice by the violent terrorist organization...

Even if he allowed it, can he really be said to have had a choice in the matter?

He may or may not be pro-hamas, but the use of the hospital by hamas is not good evidence either way...

[AloeVera]

4. There IS no evidence, it's all a big sham.

At least he made it out alive from the Israeli prison, unlike the director of another hospital as well as a senior doctor. But he says he was subjected to daily torture, mirroring claims made by many others.

He was held under Administrative Detention, so no charges. Let's face it, Israel held him for so long in order to punish him for his outspokenness and also because it couldn't admit that their whole narrative of a command-and control centre was bogus. A big sham, whose only purpose was just to provide a pretext to destroy the hospital and the medical system.

A WaPo investigation concluded pretty much the same thing. From the article:

Troops found weaponry inside the complex, as well as a tunnel network on hospital grounds. But a Post analysis of open-source visuals, satellite imagery and publicly released IDF materials found that none of the five hospital buildings identified by an IDF spokesman appeared to be connected to the tunnel network, and there was no evidence that the tunnels could be accessed from inside hospital wards.

As a result, no medical care for Gazans. The wounded child I saw today with the lower half of her face smashed into bloody gore and hanging by a thread? Still alive and suffering horrendously. Worst sight I have ever seen, partly because she was still alive... THERE IS NO TREATMENT FOR HER IN GAZA. All bombed, smashed and destroyed for a lie. There is simply no excuse for inflicting this level of suffering.

[Beastly Boy]

5. Except, there IS evidence.

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2024, 08:36 PM - Edit history (1)

As per the article you cited:

“We are absolutely confident in the intelligence ... that Hamas was using it as a command and control node,” a senior administration official told The Post last week, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings. “Hamas had been holding the hostages in the hospital compound until shortly before Israel went in.”

The U.S. government has not made any of the declassified material public and the official would not share the intelligence this assessment was based on.

By definition, WP does not have access to classified evidence.

So is there evidence of Al Shifah being used by Hamas in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention?

You: "Absolutely no evidence! A WaPo investigation concluded pretty much the same thing! And... and... a lie, sham, torture, bogus, pretext, no excuse, and... wounded child!"

WP: " Ummm... not so fast. No conclusive evidence based on our analysis of open-source visuals, satellite imagery and public statements. Without a complete understanding of Israeli intelligence and its battle plans, the legality of Israel’s military operations against al-Shifa remains an open question to us."

A senior US administration official: "Absolutely yes, We are absolutely confident in the intelligence ... that Hamas was using it as a command and control node".

Quite a divergence of opinions between your conclusions and the source you are citing, (mainly on the subjects not cited by your source, BTW), no?




.

[Beastly Boy]

2. 'Israel released a murderer': Hostages families, politicians respond to Abu Salmiya's release

Following the release of Shifa Hospital chief Muhammad Abu Salmiya on Monday morning, Israeli politicians and hostage family members were quick to voice their frustration.

A statement from the hostages' family members stated, "the decision to release 120 terrorists without us, the families of the hostages, receiving even a sign of life from our loved ones is a puzzling one. Moreover, this is a decision that is not consistent with the principles of negotiations according to which you give something and get something in return.

"We are in the last line for the approval of the Netanyahu deal and hope that the Israeli government will be determined to release our family members, with the same determination as it releases the director of Shifa Hospital, under whose auspices the hostages are given poor medical care and which offers a haven for Hamas terrorists," the statement concluded.

The hostage families from the Tikvah Forum responded to the release of the Shifa Hospital chief. "While our loved ones have been held captive by Hamas for many months, Israel released a murderer, Hamas assistant, the director of Shifa Hospital," the Tikva Forum response stated. "He is the one under whose management the hospital became a home for terrorists. He is the one who hid Hamas terrorist nests, including weapons and bunkers, where Israeli hostages were also murdered under his eyes. The decision to release him is a sign of moral disgrace"

https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-808477

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3. Thanks for that. nt