Palestinian security forces released Hussam Khader, a prominent Fatah member and former MP, five days after he was detained for criticizing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Khader was held after he published a Facebook post critical of the Palestinian leader and Fatah chief.
Abbas ordered the release and judicial proceedings to take him to court were dropped.
Khader’s family said that he was arrested after he criticized Abbas in wake of a strike by doctors in the West Bank.
Abbas had slammed the announcement of the strike as “inhumane” amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
He said doctors should be working, not going on strike amid the outbreak, Israel’s economic siege and the challenges posed by the American peace proposal. He revealed that the doctors had pledged to him that they would halt their strike, but they then “shamefully” went ahead with it.
The strike lifted soon after.
Khader’s family said he was critical of Abbas’ remarks and that he had demanded that the president apologize.
