Israeli state comptroller seeks to investigate release of al-Shifa Hospital chief
Matanyahu Englman says his office will examine the circumstances that led to the release of Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital.
“His release was accompanied by exchanges of accusations among ministers and between them and senior defence officials,” Englman, whose duties include reviewing and auditing the government, was quoted as saying by Israeli media.
“There is a concern that not all aspects of the release were thoroughly examined,” he reportedly said. “I intend to request from the prime minister the investigations that will be placed on his desk regarding the issue.”
Abu Salmiya’s release on Monday by Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, has been met with criticism from Israeli politicians, including Netanyahu. Shin Bet said his release was necessary “to free up places in detention centres”.
Palestinians have argued that Abu Salmiya’s release negates the Israeli narrative that the doctor had a role in the capture and detention of Israeli captives.
Israeli politicians are pissed off because this story broke out to the Western media
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/middleeast/al-shifa-hospital-director-released-israel-detention-intl-hnk/index.html
With risk of bringing up the Al-Shifa mass graves and executions again.
Mass graves and body bags: al-Shifa hospital after Israel withdrew its forces
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c511k1nqx81o
Israel’s parliament considering merging anti-UNRWA bills
The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee is mulling the merger of three bills, The Times of Israel reports.
One bill would ban the UN refugee agency for Palestinians from operating on “Israeli territory”, which Israel considers to include occupied East Jerusalem. A second would brand UNRWA a “terrorist” organisation, and a third would strip UNRWA personnel of legal immunity and privileges afforded to UN staff in Israel.
Israel has repeatedly lashed out at UNRWA, making unsubstantiated allegations linking the group to Hamas – claims denied by the UN agency. An independent review in April found that Israel had given no evidence linking UNRWA staff to “terrorism”.
The allegations initially led many Western nations to cut off funding to UNRWA although some of those donors have now restored their funding. UNRWA is vital for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, who rely on services and aid provided by the agency.
