The Israeli government witnessed intense discussions following the release by the Israeli army authorities, today, Monday, of the director of the Shifa Medical Complex, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salamiya, as some ministers directed strong criticism at the leaders of the security services and demanded the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, to provide clarifications regarding what happened.

The government WhatsApp group witnessed intense discussions among ministers after the release of the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Abu Salamiya, as Diaspora Minister Amichai Shikli requested an explanation from Minister Gallant, while the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, demanded the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet General Security Service. , Ronen Bar, and the appointment of new security leadership.

Shikli addressed Galant, via the government WhatsApp group: “Can we get an explanation about the reason for the release of this person who in the medical complex where he works killed some kidnappers for us?”

Ben Gvir commented on the Israeli army's release of the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Abu Salamiya, saying, "This is security negligence. It is time to prevent the Prime Minister from Galant and the head of the Shin Bet from adopting an independent policy that conflicts with the position of the cabinet and the government."

Ben Gvir added: "It is time to send the Shin Bet chief to his home. He is doing what he wants, and Gallant is with him and supports him to the fullest. They are putting an obstacle in front of the cabinet and the government."

The Israeli Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karai, also commented, saying that Israel needs a new security leadership that is committed to the spirit and courage of the fighters, as the Prime Minister is committed to.”

Galant's office: The procedures for imprisoning and releasing security prisoners are subject to the Shin Bet and the prison authority

This comes as Israeli Army Radio quoted sources in the office of Security Minister Gallant as saying: “We were not aware of the decision to release the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Muhammad Abu Salamiya.”

A statement issued by the Office of the Minister of Security said, “The procedures for imprisoning and releasing security prisoners are subject to the Shin Bet and the prison authority and are not subject to the approval of the Minister of Security.”

Netanyahu's office: The identity of the released prisoners is determined independently by security officials

The Office of the Chief of the Government Office said in a statement: “The decision to release the prisoners came after discussions in the Supreme Court regarding a petition against the detention of prisoners in the Sadi Al-Yemen Detention Center.”

Netanyahu's office added in its statement: "The identity of the released prisoners is determined independently by security officials based on their professional considerations."

The statement explained that the Prime Minister ordered the opening of an immediate investigation into the matter.

The head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, Avigdor Lieberman, criticized the decision to release the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, and expressed strong opposition to this step, and considered it a “moral, security and moral failure,” as he described it.

Gantz: A government that frees those who helped hide kidnapped people is not worthy of managing the war

The same proposal was adopted by opposition leader Yair Lapid, who strongly criticized Netanyahu and the government, saying that “ignoring the fate of the kidnapped is immoral behavior.”

Lapid continued to attack Netanyahu, saying, “American officials, of course, are talking to me. Netanyahu has only caused harm, and his behavior is illegal and irresponsible, and he is doing it so that they say about him on Channel 14, what a man.”

For his part, the head of the "National Camp", Benny Gantz, said, "The Tahrir government, which helped hide kidnapped people, is not worthy of managing the war."

Gantz added: This government does not deserve to manage the war, and it must resign, and whoever made the decision to release Abu Salamiya must be fired immediately. Netanyahu cannot continue to manage the war in this way, and the time has come to set an election date.

Abu Salamiya is a prominent Palestinian pediatrician. He assumed the position of medical director of Al-Nasr Hospital in 2007, then took over the management of Al-Rantisi Hospital in 2015, after which he became director of Al-Shifa Hospital in 2019 until his arrest on November 23, 2023.