UN Experts Condemn Cases of "Forced Disappearance" at Aid Distribution Sites in Gaza

SadaNews - Human rights experts affiliated with the United Nations have expressed concern over reports of "forced disappearance" affecting starving Palestinians who were trying to obtain food at distribution sites managed by the American "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation," which operates under Israeli occupation. Therefore, "this heinous crime must be put to an end."

The seven independent experts issued a joint statement today, Thursday, stating that they have received reports indicating that a number of individuals, including a child, fell victim to forced disappearance after they approached aid distribution sites in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

The experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but not speaking on behalf of the organization, added that "reports of forced disappearance affecting civilians who are seeking their fundamental right to food are not only shocking but also amount to torture."

They considered that "the use of food as a means to carry out targeted and mass disappearances must end now," noting reports suggesting that "the Israeli army is directly involved in the forced disappearances of people who were seeking assistance."

The statement mentioned that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented last week "the killing of 1,857 Palestinians while waiting for assistance since late May, including 1,021 individuals near the centers of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation."

The experts warned that "distribution points are imposing additional risks on individuals of facing forced disappearance," calling on the Israeli occupying government to "put an end to the heinous crime against inherently vulnerable residents, clarify the fates and locations of the disappeared individuals, conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into forced disappearances, and punish the perpetrators."

For its part, the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" stated: "There is no evidence of forced disappearance" at the aid distribution sites.

WFP Director Cindy McCain warned today, after visiting Gaza, that the sector has reached the "brink of total collapse," calling for an urgent resumption of the program’s network to distribute food supplies to prevent the spread of famine. McCain's visit to the region came after the United Nations officially announced famine in Gaza on August 22 of this year.