Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, was arrested while helping to evacuate patients. Photo: Hamas MEDIA OFFICE
The director of Gaza's largest hospital was arrested as Israel accused him of allowing the facility to be used as a Hamas command and control center.
Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al Hospital -Shifa, was detained on Thursday along with several doctors as they evacuated to the south.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said he was being questioned after evidence was discovered.” showing that Shifa Hospital, under his direct supervision, served as Hamas' command and control center.»
“The network of Hamas terrorist tunnels located under the hospital also used electricity and resources taken from the hospital,” the IDF said in a statement.
“The hospital was the site of extensive Hamas terrorist activities under his leadership. The results of his involvement in terrorist activities will determine whether he will be subject to further questioning.»
Following his arrest, Gaza's health ministry said it would stop coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) on any issues. future evacuation of medical personnel and patients from hospitals besieged by Israel.
“We are deeply surprised by the position of the UN and WHO, which have not provided any explanation for this crime.”
Israeli soldiers at the entrance to the tunnel on the territory of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City Photo: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS
Before taking control of Al-Shifa last week, Israel said the Israeli-built hospital served as Hamas headquarters.
Israeli forces laid siege to the hospital in recent days and then raided it. Snipers stationed on nearby rooftops reportedly shot at anyone who tried to cross from one wing to the other.
IDF officials this week showed reporters the underground premises where they said militants were hiding and some prisoners were being held. However, the evidence released so far does not yet support Israel's claim that al-Shifa served as Hamas's nerve center.
Stumbling block
As a long-awaited deal to free some Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip has stalled. Late Wednesday, the Israeli military said it would continue the offensive as long as necessary.
Speaking to officers in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF commander, said: “We are not stopping the war. We will continue until we win, moving forward and putting pressure on other areas of Hamas.»
Officials in Israel and Qatar insisted on Thursday that the hostages would be released, while Israel blamed the delay on chaos. Hamas behavior. Hamas.
Israel Katz, infrastructure minister and a senior member of the prime minister's party, told Army Radio on Thursday: «You have to remember who we are working with — (Hamas chief Yahya) Sinwar is a crazy man who ordered murder, rape and abuse.< /p>
Mr Katza, however, added that «it is now assumed that the deal will be concluded.»
Footage showing the tunnels
On Wednesday evening, the Israeli army released more footage showing the tunnels under Al -Shifa.
The hospital was built when the State of Israel was in full control of this territory.
Ehud Barak, a former Israeli prime minister, told CNN earlier this week that part of the underground space beneath Al Shifa was built by Israeli engineers. Israeli officials said Hamas dug up several more floors and added additional tunnels to basements originally built in the 1980s.
IDF video shows soldiers walking through cramped concrete tunnels with sparse lighting. In another video, IDF soldiers were seen in a tiled room with a sink and a steel cabinet underneath, consistent with the typical design of a medical facility.
Increasing attacks
Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon reported increased attacks along their borders on Thursday.
At least 35 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Thursday morning, the IDF said, while the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it had fired more rockets.
Israeli air defenses intercepted Most of the rockets, with the exception of two houses, were reported to have hit Kibbutz Manara on Thursday afternoon, whose residents were evacuated last month.
No casualties were immediately reported.
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