The release of Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of al Shifa hospital, continues to make waves in Israel. MK Leiberman said “He’s not a doctor. He’s Dr. Mengele.”

But I’ve been educating myself as to what really happened here, and it’s not pretty. The number of Nukba terrorists captured responsible for the October 7 atrocities has overwhelmed Israel’s jails. The army set up a facility on an army base called Sde Teiman to hold the overflow. Of course, CNN, and other terrorist sympathizers have been crying over the terrible conditions there and elsewhere. And make no mistake, they are terrible, with each prisoner estimated to have two square meters of living space.

The army is responsible for this special facility, which it would like to phase out because the IDF isn’t responsible for jails, which the Minister of Internal Security is supposed to deal with. And guess who that is? MK Ben Gvir, not known for his open-hearted sympathy for Hamas terrorists. He is also a bit of an idiot. Ben Gvir has been adamantly opposed to taking responsibility for dealing with conditions in Sde Teiman or improving them for Hamas terrorists held elsewhere. “If they (the Hamas terrorists) aren’t comfortable, let them not come into our country and rape and murder,” he has been quoted as saying.

The head of the Shabak, Ronan Barr, in response to the uproar at the release of Salmiya said: “For approximately a year, the General Security Service has been warning in every possible forum, both in writing and orally, about the incarceration crisis and the need to increase the number of detention places, given the need to arrest terrorists in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip. The incarceration crisis leads to the daily cancellation of arrests of suspects involved in terrorist activities, directly harming state security.”

Ben Gvir says Barr is concerned that international bodies will once again start issuing arrest orders for Israelis (himself?) for human rights violations in relation to prison conditions. In early June, a hearing was held on the issue of conditions in Sde Teiman in Israel’s Supreme Court at the behest of left-wing NGOs, following biased and alarmist articles on the subject in media outlets like CNN. State attorney Aner Helman told the court that 700 inmates had been moved to the Ofer military facility in Samaria, with another 500 set to be transferred in the weeks to come. Avi Segal, an attorney representing the Israeli legal organization Shurat HaDin, which had asked to join the hearing, said “the Court should be worried about setting up a hearing, and even asking for a response to petitions, based on newspaper rumors.”

No objective outside bodies have been inside the facilities. But let me say this: I am certain the conditions are as horrific as the prisoners deserve.

Ben Gvir says the controversial release of the director of al Shifa was Barr’s way of “poking him in the eye.” The Shabak argues that only prisoners unlikely to pose a threat to public safety were chosen to be released. It’s not an argument Israelis are willing to embrace.

Ben Gvir has suggested the following: “If it’s too crowded, let’s institute the death penalty.” Many, myself included, agree with that. But whatever the need for revenge and the desire to punish, the IDF needs a place to put these murderers until they face justice. It’s time to deal with the problem practically, not rhetorically.

Rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani spoke movingly at her mother Liora’s funeral today, saying she was grateful to have been by her side as she succumbed to a lengthy battle with brain cancer. “I stand here and it’s still hard for me to accept. Against all odds I was privileged to be with you in your last moments, to talk to you, laugh with you, and hear you. Thank you for being strong and holding on so I could see you one last time,” Argamani said.

All of Israel stood beside Noa, also grateful.

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