Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:18pm on 23 Nov 2023,Thursday International
Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claimed that Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza's largest hospital, al-Shifa, has been arrested by Israeli troops along with other medical staff in a move it "strongly condemned" as "inhumane". The ministry said Al-Shifa staffs who were exiting with a WHO convoy were stopped for hours at an IDF checkpoint in central Gaza and several staff were arrested. It follows Israel alleging discovery of a 55-meter tunnel under the hospital complex which contained a blast door, kitchen, and meeting room. An Israeli commander claimed it showed Hamas used the hospital as a "human shield." Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya's detention has not been confirmed by Israel. As reported by CNN, The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry is suspending cooperation with the WHO on evacuations from Al-Shifa hospital after the alleged arrest of Dr. Salmiya by Israel while exiting with a WHO convoy. Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra declared they "decide to stop full coordination with the WHO on evacuating the remaining wounded” until the director is released. The ministry blamed the UN and demanded an explanation over the incident involving the WHO convoy.
