Currently Online 
Smotrich slams release of al-Shifa Hospital head as a ‘scandal’
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the release of the director of al-Shifa Hospital “is a scandal and a major failure”.
“I appealed to the prime minister, demanding an immediate investigation into this failure and to demand answers from all those responsible without exception in order to ensure that nothing of this kind will happen again,” he was quoted as saying by Israeli media.
Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya was released with dozens of other Palestinians early on Monday after being held without charge for months.
Ex-prisoner describes ‘severe interrogation and torture’
Farj al-Samouny, a Palestinian prisoner released earlier today, says he was detained on November 16 at an Israeli checkpoint in central Gaza after being ordered to evacuate.
He told Al Jazeera from Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, that he was arrested in his neighbourhood near the so-called Netzarim axis where his father, brothers and some cousins were killed in Israeli military attacks.
“We were put under severe interrogation and torture. When you enter the interrogation room, the officer starts firing gunshots from his firearm, creating panic,” he said.
Al-Samouny said prisoners were repeatedly asked where Israeli captives were. “I [said] had no idea. I am a farmer. After that, he started firing again even close to my ears, causing them to bleed.”
Detainees were stripped down to their underwear. “Every Palestinian prisoner was put to the same conditions from morning until evening. Our hands and legs were cuffed and we were blindfolded,” al-Samouny said.
Prisoners who needed to go to the toilet were subjected to even harsher treatment, he noted.
Hepatitis, scabies, and chickenpox outbreaks in central Gaza
In a displacement camp in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, pharmacist Sami Hamid said skin infections are on the rise, particularly among children “because of the hot weather and lack of clean water”.
“The number of skin infections has increased, especially scabies and chickenpox”, as have hepatitis cases probably linked to untreated sewage flowing right beside tents, said Hamid.
Wafaa Elwan, displaced from Gaza City, said “no clean water” or basic hygiene products are available at the tent city.
“We no longer wash our children as before” and “treatment is not widely available”, Elwan said. “My son … can’t stop scratching.”
