Israel army has been 'stealing organs' from dead Palestinians in Gaza Strip: Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has accused Israel's army of taking organs from deceased individuals in the Gaza Strip, and urging for an impartial international inquiry to be conducted.

On Sunday, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor expressed worries over the potential theft of organs from Palestinian corpses, based on reports from medical experts in Gaza who examined the released bodies.

The NGO has also gathered evidence of Israeli forces taking possession of multiple dead bodies from hospitals in both northern and southern Gaza, including al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals.

Also, they claimed Israel exhumed and confiscated corpses from a mass grave dug in a courtyard at al-Shifa more than ten days ago.

According to the NGO, vital organs, such as livers, kidneys, and hearts, as well as cochleas and corneas, were missing, which could be evidence of organ theft.

According to Euro-Med, doctors at various Gaza hospitals stated that forensic medical examination alone cannot confirm or dismiss reports of organ theft as multiple bodies had undergone surgery before death. Additionally, the intense Israeli attacks on Gaza have made it impossible for a thorough examination of the recovered corpses. This is in line with previous statements from Palestinian health officials who have expressed that the collapse of the enclave's health system has made it difficult to even count the dead.

There have been reports in recent years alleging that Israel has been illegally utilizing the bodies of Palestinians. According to Meira Weiss' book, Over Their Dead Bodies, this alleged practice occurred between 1996 to 2002 and involved the removal of organs from deceased Palestinians for medical research and transplants to Israeli patients. Despite these claims, it is worth noting that Jewish beliefs do support organ transplantation and harvesting, prioritizing the preservation of life above all other religious obligations.

In a 2014 Israeli television expose, high-ranking officials admitted to using skin from deceased Palestinians and African workers for the treatment of Israelis, including soldiers with burn wounds. The director of the Israeli Skin Bank disclosed that their supply of "human skin" totalled 17 square meters, a significant amount considering Israel's population size.

According to a CNN investigation in 2008, Israel is believed to be a major center for the illegal global trade of human organs.

Euro-Med Monitor also alleges that under the guise of "security deterrence," Israel has become one of the largest hubs for this illicit industry.

The nation was urged to uphold "international law" and once again stressed the importance of honouring and safeguarding the deceased during times of war.

According to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, which has not been ratified by Israel, all warring parties must show reverence for the dead by prohibiting any forms of violation, disfigurement, or other disrespectful actions towards their bodies.

Euro-Med Monitor pointed out that Israel has been accused of retaining the bodies of numerous Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7th, although a few have been transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This action is seen as a form of punishment to deprive families of the opportunity to lay their loved ones to rest.

The tendency to hold onto deceased Palestinian bodies is something that Israel has been known for, as noted by Euro-Med Monitor.

"Israel allegedly has possession of the bodies of 145 Palestinians in its morgues and an additional 255 in a restricted location known as the "Numbers Cemetery" near the Jordanian border. This refusal to release the bodies to their families for proper burial could potentially be seen as collective punishment, which is prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention," the Euro-Med monitor said in a statement.

The act of burying the deceased holds great religious importance in Islam and carries a profound cultural and spiritual meaning.