DaysofPal- As Israel highlights its international recognition for record-breaking organ donation achievements, Palestinian officials, families of victims, and human rights organizations affirm that the Israeli occupation is stealing organs from the bodies of Palestinians, as it has a long-standing policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinians killed in custody or during military operations.
The issue resurfaced during the Global Day of Solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian prisoners on January 31, as testimonies and rights reports questioned whether the retention of bodies extends beyond punitive measures and may involve systematic violations carried out without international oversight.
Yasmin al-Barsh, the wife of Palestinian orthopedic surgeon Dr. Adnan al-Borsh, who died in Israeli detention in April 2024, said she remains deeply concerned about the condition of her husband’s body, which has been withheld since his death.
In public statements, she said Israeli occupation forces transferred his body to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, where it remains, without providing an autopsy report or official explanation. The lack of transparency, she said, has left the family unable to rule out the possibility that organs were removed.
Dr. Munir al-Barsh, Director General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, questioned the origins of the organ donation figures the Israeli occupation has promoted internationally, particularly kidney transplants that have recently received global recognition.
He said the Israeli policy of holding Palestinian bodies for extended periods, while denying families access to medical reports or independent examinations, undermines its claims of humanitarian leadership.
He pointed to documented cases in which bodies were returned missing organs and without any official medical explanation.
Dr. al-Borsh stressed that Palestinians do not oppose organ donation itself but reject the exploitation of Palestinian bodies for political messaging. He called for an independent international investigation, saying the absence of transparency and oversight makes accountability essential.
Concerns have also been raised by the case of Laith Abu Mu‘ayliq, who was killed on October 7, 2023. His body was returned to his family later that month as part of a prisoner exchange during a temporary ceasefire.
His mother said the family was shocked to find unexplained surgical stitching on his body, with no accompanying medical report or explanation from Israeli authorities. She said the marks deepened suspicions that organs may have been removed, adding that the circumstances of his return do not negate the family’s right to know the truth.
Human rights organizations argue that these cases reflect a broader pattern rather than isolated incidents. They cite Israel’s long-standing practice of holding bodies in morgues or so-called “numbered graves,” delaying burial and preventing independent medical review.
Rights reports also document the transfer of bodies to Israeli forensic institutions without family consent, the presence of unexplained surgical marks, and the denial of access to medical documentation, practices that violate international medical and humanitarian standards.
Some reports reference suspected removal of organs such as corneas, with files reportedly being prepared for submission to international legal bodies.
Observers have also pointed to the contradiction between Israeli-celebrated organ donation statistics and the lack of transparency surrounding the sources of those organs, particularly given the continued detention of Palestinian bodies without oversight.
The National Campaign to Recover the Bodies of Martyrs and Missing Persons says the Israeli occupation is currently holding at least 776 Palestinian bodies in morgues and “cemeteries of numbers,” including women, children, and prisoners.
The group also condemned the reported exhumation of more than 250 graves in Gaza during recent military operations, describing the actions as a violation of the sanctity of the dead and a serious breach of international law.
Legal Experts Cite International Law Violations
International law expert Raed Abu Badawiya said the alleged practices constitute violations of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
He cited provisions requiring the dignified treatment and burial of the dead, stating that violations could amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and are subject to international prosecution.
Allegations Amid International Recognition
The renewed allegations come shortly after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that the Israeli occupation had achieved a global record in kidney donations, an achievement recognized by Guinness World Records.
Palestinian officials say the celebration underscores the international double standards, where the Israeli occupation is praised for humanitarian accomplishments while serious allegations involving Palestinian bodies remain unexamined.
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