Director Muhammad Abu Salmiya and several other medical personnel have been detained by the Israeli army as it continues its offensive in Gaza. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in the Gaza Strip, has been a major focus of Israel’s ground offensive in northern Gaza. The director of the hospital, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, was arrested along with several other “senior doctors”, according to Khalid Abu Samra, a department chief at the hospital.
The Israeli army has alleged that Hamas fighters have been using a tunnel complex beneath the hospital to stage attacks, a claim that Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied. Last week, the Israeli army raided the hospital, further escalating tensions.
On Wednesday, the UN’s humanitarian office reported that the Israeli army obstructed a convoy of ambulances transporting 190 wounded and sick patients from al-Shifa Hospital to the south. The journey, which should have taken a few hours, ended up taking almost 20 hours due to delays at the Israeli military checkpoint. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) expressed concern that the lives of the wounded and sick people were put in danger during this prolonged delay.
The PRCS also reported that three paramedics and a companion of one of the wounded patients were detained for more than three hours in the cold, while the patients were being transferred to hospitals in the south. This incident highlights the challenges faced by medical personnel in providing urgent care amidst the ongoing conflict.
The arrest of the director of al-Shifa Hospital raises concerns about the targeting of medical professionals and facilities in the Gaza Strip. The international community must ensure the protection of medical personnel and the unhindered access of humanitarian aid to those in need. The situation in Gaza remains volatile, and efforts must be made to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
