WHO voices concern over fate of Gaza hospital chief
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Hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside Al-Shifa hospital.
PHOTO: REUTERS
GENEVA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Nov 24 voiced concern over the fate of the head of Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facility’s alleged use by Hamas.
In a statement, the WHO said the head of the biggest hospital in the besieged Palestinian territory had been arrested on Nov 22, along with five other health workers, while they were taking part in a United Nations mission to evacuate patients.
“Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained,” the WHO said.
Since then, two of the six have reportedly been released, but “we do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital”.
The UN agency called for “their legal and human rights to be fully observed during their detention”.
A spokesman for the Israeli army said on Nov 25 that hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya was being questioned.
“We are currently moving forward with... questioning him over the fact that he was the head of a hospital that was really sitting on top of an entire terror network,” Mr Doron Spielman said.
“How could he not know what’s happening? We have hostages that were on, you know, CCTV in his hospital.”
Dr Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside Al-Shifa, a major focus of the Israeli ground offensive following attacks by Hamas militants on Oct 7.
The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks.
Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the claims.
The WHO has carried out three missions to Al-Shifa in the space of a week, the organisation has said, on one occasion managing to evacuate 31 babies from the hospital.
During the third mission, on Nov 22, which was carried out in cooperation with the Palestinian Red Crescent, 151 people were evacuated, including patients, their relatives and healthcare workers, according to the WHO. AFP
