International Day of Enforced
Disappearance is commemorated every year on August 30 to highlight thousands of
cases who fall victims of this crime. This issue holds a great importance
particularly in Palestine where the Israeli forces constantly conduct
systematic enforced disappearances of Palestinians.
According to human rights reports,
thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children have been victims of enforced
disappearances. Since October 7, 2023, the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights has received disturbing reports of enforced disappearances of thousands
of Palestinians in northern Gaza. These reports suggest that over 13,000 people
in Gaza are missing. Some are still trapped under the rubble, others have been
buried in random mass graves, and some have been forcibly disappeared into
Israeli prisons, including "Sde Teiman" prison, where serious human
rights abuses have been widely reported.
Palestinians are held in severe
conditions, ranging from mass detention in temporary camps to imprisonment in
underground facilities. At "Sde Teiman" prison, detainees endure
brutal torture and medical neglect. In December 2023, reports of these abuses
prompted Israeli human rights organizations to file petitions with the Israeli
Supreme Court, calling for the disclosure of the fate and locations of hundreds
of Palestinians who have been forcibly disappeared. The court's response has
been limited, revealing only a few locations while the fate of thousands
remains unknown. These practices don’t only breach international humanitarian
law and human rights standards but also reflect a deliberate policy aimed at dismantling
the Palestinian social fabric.
Arrests were carried out after
civilians had been displaced from their homes due to Israeli attacks. They were
taken to undisclosed locations, where they endured torture, including physical
abuse, humiliation, and detention under inhumane conditions.
Most of the cases of enforced
disappearances occurred after October 7, 2023, with the beginning of the
Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip. This period saw a significant rise in mass
arrests and enforced disappearances of Palestinians, especially in northern
Gaza. Reports suggest that Israeli forces conducted mass detentions and
targeted schools and shelters where residents had taken refuge.
Israel aims to suppress and
undermine the Palestinian community by instilling fear and disrupting family
and social connections.
Palestinian women face significant
challenges in this situation. They are often at the forefront of efforts to
find their missing family members, such as children and husbands where they are
exposed to harassment and arrest. Additionally, with their partners or fathers
gone, they become the primary breadwinners for their families, which places
them under severe psychological and financial strain.
Although the international community
has voiced concern over these practices, such condemnation has not led to
effective pressure on the occupying forces to stop these abuses. Consequently,
Palestinians continue to endure enforced disappearances as part of their
everyday lives. Urgent action is needed from both the international community
and human rights organizations to ensure accountability and halt such inhumane
practices.
Highlighting the suffering of
Palestinians caused by enforced disappearances is essential for pursuing
justice. The International Day for Victims of Enforced Disappearance should
remind the international community of the urgent need to take meaningful action
to protect human rights and put an end to these practices that flagrantly
violate human dignity.
Recommendations:
1.Establish
independent international investigation committees to examine cases of enforced
disappearances in Palestine and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted in
international courts.
2.Call
for immediate and comprehensive protection for all Palestinians held in Israeli
prisons, ensuring their treatment meets the highest international human rights
standards and addressing issues such as torture and other forms of abuse.
3.Urge
countries and international organizations to intensify diplomatic pressure on
Israel to halt all forms of enforced disappearance, ensure the immediate
release of all unlawfully detained individuals, and disclose the fate of the
missing.
4.Ensure
that victims and their families receive fair and adequate compensation,
including psychological and financial support, and guarantee their right to
truth and justice.
5.Provide
comprehensive support to Palestinian families affected by enforced
disappearances by offering psychological, social, and economic programs to help
them cope with trauma and strengthen their social fabric to ensure continued
resilience against violations.
6.Enhance international efforts to document all
cases of enforced disappearances and related abuses, raise global awareness
about these crimes to prevent recurrence, and support accountability and
justice efforts.
August 30, 2024
The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)