Israel Frees 55 Palestinians, Including Gaza Hospital Director, From Detention

A Palestinian health official reports that Israel released 55 Palestinians on Monday who had been detained from Gaza, including the director of the main hospital in the territory.

Mohammed Abu Selmia was taken into custody in November during an Israeli raid on Shifa Hospital. In video comments broadcast by Palestinian media after his release, Abu Selmia accused Israeli authorities of subjecting Palestinian detainees to “daily physical and psychological humiliation.” Israeli authorities have refuted these allegations.

Israel claims that Hamas and other terrorist groups seek refuge in hospitals and utilize them for military purposes. Palestinian health officials argue that Israeli assaults have led to several hospitals either closing down or significantly reducing services, putting civilians at risk. When hospitals are used for military purposes, they lose their protected status under international law.

The Israeli military reported that about 20 projectiles were launched from Gaza towards communities near the border early Monday morning. No casualties or damages were immediately reported.

Israel initiated the conflict following an attack by Hamas on October 7, during which terrorists invaded southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals—mostly civilians—and the abduction of around 250 people.

Since then, Israeli ground operations and bombings have caused the deaths of over 37,700 individuals in Gaza, as per the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count. The conflict has severely restricted the delivery of food, medicine, and essential goods to Gaza, leaving the population entirely reliant on aid. Despite the United Nations court noting a “credible risk of genocide” in Gaza, Israel vehemently denies these accusations.