When the Israeli authorities released the director of Gaza’s biggest hospital from custody on Monday, they also opened the gates to a string of extremely serious accusations. Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya, who was released along with about 50 other detained Palestinians, said prisoners had been assaulted, deprived of food and did not receive any legal representation during their detention.
Dr Abu Salmiya had been accused by Israel of allowing Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to be used by Hamas as an operations centre. However, after more than six months’ detention, he was released without charge. Another released detainee, Bassam Miqdad – head of the Gaza European Hospital’s orthopaedic unit – spoke of his own mistreatment. “I was deprived of food and was verbally abused. I was moved to three Israeli detention centres, the last being Nafha Prison,” he added.
It is far from the first time that Palestinians have accused the Israeli authorities of treating prisoners and detainees inhumanely. The latest accusations have come not from hardened militants or political activists but senior doctors, responsible for the lives of many patients. This should be cause for alarm and should lead to serious investigations.
Their accounts are the latest in many years of findings that point to systemic violence and abuse against Palestinians. In just one example, a report in February from Save the Children found that Palestinian children arrested by Israeli forces faced “immense emotional and physical abuse”. Four out of five, the report added, had been beaten and nearly 70 per cent had been strip-searched. The continuing scandal of so-called administrative detention, in which Palestinian suspects can be held for months or years without charge or trial, reflects a deeply compromised justice system.
As with last month’s case of Israeli soldiers tying a Palestinian man to a military vehicle in the West Bank city of Jenin, few are expecting the accusations made by Dr Abu Salmiya and others to be properly investigated – if they are investigated at all. Instead, the men’s release has sparked a very public row among Israel’s political and security establishment.
Various actors – including Cabinet ministers, the Shin Bet internal security agency, opposition leaders and others – are assigning blame to one another for this group of detainees being released. This is not only the latest example of disarray in the Israeli ranks but reveals the unsustainability of an unending policy of collective punishment.
The mass detentions of Palestinians since October 7 have apparently led to a shortage of Israeli prison cells in which to hold them. The overcrowding has been exacerbated over the past nine months. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, about 9,500 Palestinians have been detained in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military has launched more operations in areas of Gaza, such as Khan Younis, that were thought to have been cleared of Hamas fighters. As the war grinds on, Israeli reservists are cycled in and out of active service and the country is now potentially looking to draft ultra-Orthodox religious communities into the armed forces.
Unjustified detention and inhuman treatment should be a red line for all involved in this conflict; that includes those militant factions who abducted Israeli civilians and continue to hold them against their will in a war zone. Israel, if it wants to be regarded as a nation of laws, needs to not only investigate credible allegations of abuse in its prison system, it needs to stop these violations systematically.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E268hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E380Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh208%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
