Israel-Gaza war: Israel arrests director of Gaza’s biggest hospital al-Shifa
- Director Mohammad Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside al-Shifa
- The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks
A doctor at Gaza’s largest hospital al-Shifa told AFP that the facility’s director and several other medical personnel were arrested by Israeli forces on Thursday.
The director, Mohammad Abu Salmiya, has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside al-Shifa, a major focus of the Israeli ground offensive following the militants’ October 7 attacks.
The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks.
Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the claims.
“Doctor Mohammad Abu Salmiya was arrested along with several other senior doctors,” said Khalid Abu Samra, a chief of department at the hospital.
An official in the Hamas-run health ministry said another doctor and two nurses had been detained, as well as the hospital director.
In a statement, Hamas said it “strongly denounces” the arrest of Salmiya and his colleagues, calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organisations to work towards their “immediate release”.
