Concerns about 'organ theft' by Israel's forces from dead Palestinians were raised by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said on Sunday it had “concerns” about possible organ theft from Palestinian corpses, following reports by medical professionals in Gaza who examined some bodies after they were released by Israel.

Medical professionals reportedly found vital organs, such as livers, kidneys and hearts, alongside cochleas and corneas, were missing, which the Euro-Med Monitor called “evidence” of potential organ theft.

They also claimed Israel exhumed and confiscated corpses from a mass grave that was dug more than 10 days ago in a courtyard at al-Shifa.

Israel has previously denied harvesting organs from dead Palestinians without the consent of families, calling such accusations “antisemitic”.

  • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.world
    0·
    9 months ago

    Quit muddying the waters Hasbara, that’s not what the article says.

    Israel has long been accused of harvesting organs Reports have circulated in recent years that Israel is unlawfully using Palestinian corpses.

    In her book Over Their Dead Bodies, Israeli doctor Meira Weiss claimed organs were taken from dead Palestinians between 1996 and 2002 and used in medical research at Israeli universities and transplanted into Israeli patients’ bodies.

    Jewish teachings permit organ transplantation and harvesting, with the need to save lives paramount over all other religious commandments.

    A controversial Israeli television investigation in 2014 included confessions from high-ranking officials that skin was taken from the bodies of dead Palestinians and African workers to treat Israelis, such as soldiers with burn injuries.

    In it, the director of the Israeli Skin Bank revealed the country’s reserve of “human skin” reached 17 square meters - a huge number relative to Israel’s population.

    Israel is thought to be the biggest hub for the illegal global trade in human organs, according to a 2008 investigation by the American CNN network.

    Euro-Med Monitor claimed Israel is one of the "world’s biggest hubs for the illegal trade of human organs under the pretext of ‘security deterrence’”.

    It urged the country to abide by “international law” and reiterated the “necessity of respecting and protecting the bodies of the dead during armed conflicts.”

    The 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel has not ratified, requires combatants to respect the dignity of the dead, including preventing despoiling, mutilation, or any disrespectful treatment of their bodies.

    Palestinian bodies reportedly being withheld by Israeli forces

    Euro-Med also accused Israel of holding the remains of dozens of Palestinians killed during its military operation in Gaza since 7 October, though some have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

    This is considered by some a punitive practice to deny families the chance of burying their loved ones.

    Israel has a long history of holding onto the bodies of dead Palestinians, Euro-Med Monitor said.