Crimes Beyond Description: Calls for Int’l Probe into Mutilation of Palestinian Martyrs’ Bodies
GAZA, Nov. 12 (YPA) – Amidst the ongoing repercussions of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, a new issue emerges, highlighting a dark aspect of humanitarian violations.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has revealed shocking incidents concerning the way Israeli occupation forces handled the bodies of Palestinian martyrs recently handed over through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), demanding the formation of independent international investigation committees to document these crimes and verify their legal and humanitarian nature.
Official Testimonies and Horrific Scenes
The Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, stated on Wednesday that Palestinian medical teams observed scenes “beyond description” upon receiving the martyrs’ bodies, describing the events as a “blatant violation of human dignity and the sanctity of the dead.”
Al-Bursh added that what the forensic doctors witnessed “reflects sadism and Nazism in dealing with the bodies of the victims after killing them,” pointing out that the Ministry of Health received 315 bodies. Only 89 were identified, while 182 were buried in an unknown mass grave due to limited medical capabilities and the destruction of DNA testing laboratories.
Human Organ Theft
One of the most serious revelations made by Dr. Al-Bursh is that a number of the bodies showed traces of precise dissection using professional surgical tools, raising serious suspicions that they were subjected to human organ theft operations.
He indicated that the burial of the bodies before completing the criminal investigations was an “unavoidable necessity” due to resource limitations, warning that the loss of samples and evidence might lead to the loss of the legal right to prove these crimes before international bodies.
Inhumane Conditions and Logistical Difficulties
Dr. Al-Bursh noted that the Israeli occupation handed over the bodies under inhumane conditions, forcing Palestinian medical teams to use refrigerators designated for fish for temporary preservation, given the absence of dedicated medical refrigerators and laboratories for preserving bodies or analyzing samples.
He reiterated that the burial of the bodies before completing the criminal investigations was unavoidable due to limited resources, cautioning that the loss of samples and evidence could lead to the loss of the legal right to prove the crimes before international bodies.
Challenges in Identifying the Bodies
Ministry of Health teams and families face extreme difficulties in identifying the martyrs due to the state of decomposition and mutilation. Relatives are relying on personal markers such as clothes, rings, and teeth.
Al-Bursh explained that some families identified their sons through engraved wedding rings or personal sandals, confirming that identification efforts are continuing despite the limited capabilities.
Call for International Investigation and Accountability
In light of these crimes, Dr. Al-Bursh directed an urgent appeal to the international community, human rights, and medical organizations, stressing the necessity of forming independent international investigation committees to prove the crimes of genocide, organ theft, and mutilation of bodies. He also called on the ICRC to provide the Ministry with lists of the martyrs, 182 of whom were buried unidentified.
According to the Palestinian National Campaign for the Retrieval of Martyrs’ Bodies, “Israel” was holding 735 Palestinian bodies before the ceasefire. Haaretz newspaper revealed last July that the occupation army was holding an additional 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the “Sde Teiman” camp, in a clear violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law.
YPA