Prison service says it is not responsible for release of Shifa Hospital director

The Israel Prison Service, under the authority of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, hits back at claims made by the Shin Bet that it was forced to release detainees back to Gaza due to a lack of space in jails.

“Unfortunately, due to false publications, we are forced to reveal the release order of the director of Shifa Hospital,” IPS says, publishing an image of the document signed by an IDF brigadier general in reserves.

“Contrary to the false claims that have been published in recent hours, those who made the decision to release the director of Shifa Hospital were the IDF and Shin Bet — and not the IPS,” the service says.

“IPS does not make decisions on its own to release prisoners of any kind, and is only entrusted with incarceration of prisoners,” it says.

The Shin Bet had said it was forced to release dozens of Gazan detainees to make room for more significant terrorists, after warning for a year of a lack of prison space.

“The director of the hospital was not released due to the incarceration crisis — he was released from a cell at Nafha Prison,” IPS says.

It is not clear how the service is arguing that his release from Nafha indicates the decision was not based on lack of space.