Freed Gaza hospital chief says he was ‘tortured’ in Israeli detention

Israel released the director of Gaza’s main hospital on Monday, seven months after the military raided the facility over allegations it was being used as a Hamas command centre.

The release of Mohammed Abu Selmia without charge or trial raised further questions about Israel’s allegations regarding al-Shifa Hospital, which its forces have raided on two occasions since the start of its nearly nine-month war with Hamas.

Abu Selmia said he and other prisoners had been tortured and held under harsh conditions, allegations that could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinian detainees who have been released back into Gaza.

“Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars,” he said. “There was almost daily torture. Cells are broken into and prisoners are beaten.” He said guards broke his finger and caused his head to bleed during beatings, in which they used batons and dogs.

He said the medical staff at different facilities where he was held had also taken part in the abuse “in violation of all laws.” He said some detainees had limbs amputated because of poor medical care.

Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about why he had been released or his allegations of mistreatment. Prison authorities have previously denied such mistreating detainees.