Muhammad Abu Selmia, the director of Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital, released by Israel, stated that he had been subjected to torture.

Israel has released Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital.

Abu Selmia was released seven months after being detained on allegations that the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center. The wrongful arrest and release of Mohammed Abu Selmia raises further questions about Israel's allegations against Al-Shifa Hospital.

Israeli officials did not immediately comment on why he was released or the torture allegations. Prison officials had previously denied such torture claims.

SUBJECTED TO SEVERE TORTURE

Abu Selmia stated that he and other detainees were subjected to torture and held under harsh conditions. His claims were consistent with accounts from other released Palestinian prisoners. "Torture was carried out in the cells almost every day. The guards beat me with sticks and dogs, broke my finger, and made my head bleed," he said. Abu Selmia also alleged that medical staff who were supposed to help him were involved in the torture, "violating all laws." He also claimed that some prisoners had their limbs amputated due to poor medical care.

Israeli officials did not comment on the reasons for his release or the torture allegations. Military officials, who claimed that they raided Al-Shifa Hospital for the second time during the war, said they found a tunnel underneath the hospital and other evidence of militants inside the facility. However, these pieces of evidence did not fully match their pre-raid claims.

ARRESTED WHILE ON DUTY

Abu Selmia was detained on November 22 while evacuating patients from the hospital during a mission led by the UN. Abu Selmia stated that he was arrested "politically motivated" and was brought to court at least three times without ever being charged or allowed to meet with lawyers.