Denying Intelligence Service, Israel's Prison Service Banks Release Director Of Gaza Hospital Not Because Prisoners Are Full

Director of Shin Bet Ronen Bar (left) with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (center). (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Israel's prison authorities denied claims of a lack of detention room, as Israeli officials blamed each other for the release of Gaza's hospital chief on Monday.

The release of Al Shifa Hospital Director in Gaza Mohammed Abu Salmiya made Israeli officials furious and accused each other. Israeli media published pictures of ministers discussing the matter in the government's WhatsApp group. Abu Salmiya is among the 50 prisoners released by Israel.

Israel's Prison Service (IPS) under the authority of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, dismissed claims made by Shin Bet that they were forced to release prisoners back into Gaza due to lack of space in prison.

"Unfortunately, due to false publications, we were forced to reveal an order to release the director of the Shifa Hospital," said the IPS, which published an image of the document signed by an IDF (Israeli military) brigade general, reported by The Times of Israel July 1.

"Contrary to false claims that have been published in recent hours, those who made the decision to release directors of Shifa Hospital are the IDF and Shin Bet, not the IPS," the service said.

"The IPS does not make its own decision to release prisoners in any form, and is only entrusted with imprisoning prisoners," the service added.

"The director of the hospital was not released because of the detention crisis he was released from a cell in Nafha Prison," said IPS.

#عاجل مدير مستشفى الشفاء د. محمد أبو سلمية في أول كلماته بعد الإفراج عنه:"وضع السجون مأساوي وصعب جدا، ويجب أن يكون هناك كلمة حاسمة للمقاومة والشعوب العربية من أجل حرية الأسرى". pic.twitter.com/p5J8UW5suk

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) July 1, 2024

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It is unclear how the agency argued that his release from Nafha showed the decision was not based on a lack of prison cells.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are away from the matter.

"The procedure for the detention of security prisoners and their release is under the Shin Bet and the Israeli Prison Service, and is not subject to the approval of the defense minister," the Defense Minister's office said.

The Shin Bet is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, while Israel's Prison Service is under the Ministry of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir.

Meanwhile, PM Netanyahu's Office said "the decision to release prisoners was to participate in discussions at the High Court regarding a petition for detention of prisoners at the Sde Teiman detention facility."

"The identity of the released detainees is independently determined by security officials based on their professional considerations," the statement continued.

The Prime Minister's Office added that PM Netanyahu had ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.

Minister Ben Gvir accused Abu Salmiya of his release of security negligence and accused the Shin Bet.

The Shin Bet said they were forced to send prisoners back to the Gaza Strip, due to a lack of space in Israeli prisons and plans to stop the use of the Sde Teiman detention facility.

"For about a year, the Shin Bet has warned in every possible forum about the detention crisis and the need to increase the number (cells), given the need to arrest terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," the agency said in a statement.

"The detention crisis has led to the cancellation of the arrest of suspects involved in terrorist activities every day, and directly endangers state security," Shin Bet continued.

"Unfortunately, this request was forwarded to all relevant parties, the most important thing was the minister of national security, who was responsible for this, was not responded to, and in practice, the number (cells) did not increase as needed," he said, referring to Itamar Ben Gvir.

The agency said the release was carried out after "checking the dangers felt by all detainees."

Shin Bet said Abu Salmiya "has met all requirements (for release) regarding the level of danger it poses," but added it would investigate the decision to release him.

"Because there is no other choice, without a direct solution to the prison room crisis, arrests will continue to be canceled and detainees will continue to be released," the agency added.