Palestinians Missing After Encounters with Israeli Troops During Gaza Conflict

Reem Ajour last saw her husband and daughter in March during a raid by Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza. The soldiers forced her to leave behind her injured family members. Eight months later, she remains without answers about their whereabouts. "I am living and dead at the same time," she said, overwhelmed with emotion. The military claims no knowledge of their fate, and the house was destroyed shortly after the raid.

Hamoked, an Israeli legal group, is assisting Palestinians like Ajour in finding family members missing after Israeli military operations in Gaza. These cases highlight a lack of accountability in how the military handles Palestinians during raids. Thousands have gone missing during the 14-month conflict, according to Hamoked. The military's methods often result in families being separated amid chaos.

Military Detention and Missing Persons

The military conducts mass detentions during raids, rounding up men suspected of Hamas ties and forcing families to separate. However, it is unclear how they track those detained or separated. Rights groups say detainees can be held without communication for over two months. This makes it nearly impossible for families to know what happened to their loved ones.

Jessica Montell, director of Hamoked, stated, "We've never had a situation of mass forced disappearance from Gaza." Despite petitions, Israel's High Court has not intervened to provide answers. The military declined to comment on specific cases like Ajour's when asked by The Associated Press.

Personal Accounts of Separation

The Ajours were staying with Talal's family in Gaza City when troops raided on March 24. Reem Ajour was shot while pregnant, and her husband and daughter were also injured. Soldiers ordered her to leave them behind and head south with her younger son. She walked for hours to reach a hospital where she was treated but later miscarried.

A rumour that Talal's name was heard among detainees keeps Ajour hopeful, though the military denies having records of him or Masaa. Their building was destroyed amid ongoing battles between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters nearby.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

Under revised wartime laws, Palestinians from Gaza can be detained in Israel without outside contact for over two months. Israel argues this is necessary due to the high number of detainees following the October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people. However, rights groups say Israel must document all detentions under international law.

Hamoked has requested information on 900 missing Palestinians; the military confirmed detaining about 500 but had no record of the others. The group petitioned Israel's High Court for answers in 52 cases involving children like Masaa. Montell criticised the court for dismissing cases without investigating further.

Other Missing Persons

The Alghrabli family last saw Mahmoud Alghrabli when troops raided Khan Younis in February. Despite searching extensively, his family found only bones near their home later. Hamoked was informed there was no record of his detention.

Mahmoud Almoqayed disappeared after trying to find his family during a raid in Beit Lahiya in May. His clothes were found near a school where they sheltered, along with skulls and body parts nearby. His son believes he may have been killed and his body taken by troops.

The UN reports at least 53 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention during the conflict. Since December 2023, Israel has returned over 318 bodies to Gaza for burial in mass graves without identification.

Ajour now lives in a tent camp with her son outside Zuweida town. She remembers Masaa as "my first joy" with distinctive features and laments missing her fifth birthday in July.