DaysofPal – The Director-General of Gaza’s Government Media Office, Ismail Ibrahim al-Thawabta, denounced Israeli claims of leadership in organ donation, stating that such narratives cannot be separated from a long-documented record of grave violations against the bodies of deceased Palestinians.
Al-Thawabta emphasized that this propaganda seeks to whitewash a state implicated in crimes that violate human dignity both in life and after death.
International reports from human rights organizations and media outlets over several years have documented systematic practices violating the sanctity of Palestinian corpses after death, in direct breach of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. These laws obligate an occupying power to respect the dead, refrain from tampering with bodies, and ensure proper handling and burial.
Al-Thawabta stressed that these violations are not isolated incidents but represent an organized policy carried out in the absence of effective international accountability.
He highlighted that Israel continues to hold thousands of Palestinian bodies in so-called “Numbered Graves,” where corpses are buried without names or markers, denying families the right to know the fate of their loved ones or to bury them with dignity in accordance with their religious and cultural customs.
Allegations of Organ Theft and International Silence
The long-term detention of bodies raises serious suspicions of tampering and organ theft, particularly given Israel’s refusal to allow independent investigations or transparent examinations.
Al-Thawabta warned that using the bodies of the deceased as tools of political and security pressure constitutes a complete ethical and legal crime. It reflects a colonial mindset that disregards basic human values and the rights of people under occupation.
He criticized the international community’s silence, noting that statements expressing “concern” have encouraged the occupying power to continue these practices without fear of accountability.
Al-Thawabta called for the formation of an independent and transparent international committee to investigate the detention of bodies and alleged organ theft. He stressed the need to hold all responsible parties accountable before international justice systems.
He also called on UN agencies and human rights organizations to uphold their moral and legal obligations and take swift action to put an end to these crimes, which he characterized as blatant violations of people’s rights to justice and human dignity. According to al-Thawabta, justice for the deceased begins with full disclosure of the truth and preventing it from being obscured by false propaganda campaigns.
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