DaysofPal — A human rights organization in Gaza has reported that more than 9,500 Palestinians have been declared missing since the start of the Israeli genocidal war in October 2023, including approximately 4,700 women and children.
The Al-Dameer Foundation for Human Rights detailed widespread cases of enforced disappearance and loss of contact amid ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Titled “Missing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Under Genocidal War Conditions,” the report identified five primary categories of missing persons.
The largest group, estimated at more than 8,100 individuals, consists of those believed to be trapped under the rubble of homes and buildings destroyed during Israeli airstrikes.
The organization also documented over 250 cases of people who went missing while attempting to reach humanitarian aid distribution points or along routes used by aid convoys.
Some of these incidents were reportedly linked to operations associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the report said is managed by U.S.-based private security firms.
In addition, the report cited more than 350 individuals who crossed the border fence on October 7, 2023, and whose fate remains unknown, with no official information released regarding their whereabouts.
Another 800 Palestinians were reported missing after being detained by Israeli occupation forces while moving from northern to southern Gaza through military checkpoints or during ground operations inside the territory.
The foundation stated that these cases constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law, referencing the Fourth Geneva Convention, its Additional Protocol I, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
It also cited the Rome Statute, which classifies enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity.
Al-Dameer called on the Israeli occupation to disclose the fate of all missing persons, return remains to families, and allow international organizations and medical teams unrestricted access to affected sites.
The group further urged the establishment of a genetic database to assist in identifying victims, as well as the activation of international accountability mechanisms and the adoption of national legislation to guarantee families’ right to know the fate of their relatives.
According to Palestinian statistics cited in the report, the ongoing Israeli genocidal war has resulted in more than 245,000 casualties, including those killed and injured, as well as over 11,000 missing persons and hundreds of thousands displaced across the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli genocide.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=75116
